The uncertainties surrounding the resumption of the natural gas exploration project in Area 1 of the Rovuma basin has led French multinational TotalEnergies to demobilize workers.

This process, according to the weekly Savana, will involve around 80 workers, including Mozambicans and expatriates. Only the "essential" staff in Afungi, Cabo Delgado, and the Maputo offices will be kept on.

Despite this, a source quoted by the newspaper assures that the French company will continue to invest in socio-economic components such as training and business opportunities to create jobs.

The weekly recalls that this is not the first time TotalEnergies has laid off staff. In 2021, the company made major redundancies following a terrorist attack in the Palma district. However, in 2022, the staff laid off in 2021 were rehired and a new workforce was hired.

But this current move is antithetical to the "positive progress" in the area of operations for the resumption of the project, admitted by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné in May this year.

Optimistic forecasts for the return to operations of the more than 20 billion dollar project point to the first quarter of 2025. In the meantime, it is dependent on a risk assessment on security and the release of financing.