Some analysts say that continued terrorist actions in some districts of Cabo Delgado could frustrate the country's desire to begin exporting liquefied natural gas next October unless there is greater investment, particularly in patrolling the Mozambican coast.

The President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi says that the export of liquefied natural gas, produced in the Rovuma Basin, in the province of Cabo Delgado, the scene of terrorist attacks, "will start from October this year, being the prelude to future development, where Mozambique will play an important role for the energy security of several countries in the world.

Given the current reality, political analyst Lucas Ubisse, quoted by VOA, says it is necessary to face this issue with great prudence, since terrorist attacks still occur in some districts of Cabo Delgado.

"It is true that at this moment, terrorist actions occur mainly in the districts of Nangade and Macomia, which are far from the gas sites, but this does not mean that attacks cannot also occur in Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, which are in the gas zone," emphasizes the analyst.

In his view, these attacks, without being a direct threat to the gas project," the mere fact that they occur in the area, quote, is not good news for the development of the gas project, since this causes uneasiness, known the weaknesses that exist especially along our coast."

French oil company Total, which leads the billion-dollar natural gas project in Cabo Delgado, has suspended its operations in Palma following the March 24, 2021 terrorist attack on that district's headquarters.

For his part, Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), says that a large investment will be necessary in the area of security in Palma, and believes that it will not be difficult to mobilize partners for this objective "because Mozambique is going to become a regional energy power, and this interests the countries in the region, which will benefit from the gas.

But for the economist and executive director of the Observatório do Meio Rural, João Mosca, regardless of these opportunities, the country needs to invest heavily in its armed forces and points out that "it has already been revealed that neither the Mozambican Navy nor the Air Force have sufficient resources for their activities.

However, Egna Sidumo, university lecturer and security specialist, believes that the liquefied natural gas project in Cabo Delgado will be able to start within the timeframe projected by the government, since the attacks taking place in Nangade and Macomia do not constitute a threat, "so much so that more than undertakings of this nature, they involve strong security measures.