The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Carlos Zacarias, assured on Wednesday that the French energy resources exploration company, Total, could resume its activities on the Afungi peninsula, in Cabo Delgado province, in 2023, depending on local security conditions.

"We wanted this to happen as soon as possible, but given the reality on the ground, I believe that next year we will certainly see Total returning and the Mozambique LNG [liquefied natural gas] project being implemented," said the Minister, quoted by STV.

When asked to specify the date of Total's return, Carlos Zacarias said he didn't know yet, but assured that work was underway to restart work in Afungi.

"I don't have a clear answer at the moment. We are working, with the government on one side and Total on the other, so that we have everything defined," he said.

Despite this, the Minister believes that the situation in Cabo Delgado province is under control, and that the resumption of Total's activities will mean that hundreds of workers will have to return to the country.

"The conditions on the ground have improved a lot, but there are still some fundamental issues that are still being dealt with, as the authorities have said," reassured the Minister, who was speaking on the sidelines of the reception for South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.