The general manager in Mozambique of the American oil company ExxonMobil, Arne Gibbs, said that security conditions in Cabo Delgado province, especially in the regions where liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects are being carried out, are improving compared to previous years.

ExxonMobil is leading the construction and operation of all future natural gas liquefaction and related facilities for the Area 4 deepwater block off the coast of Cabo Delgado, operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), a joint venture owned by ExxonMobil, Italian energy company ENI and CNPC of China.

Speaking after an audience granted to him on Wednesday in the city of Pemba by the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, Gibbs stressed that the situation is better than it was a few years ago. "I recognize what the Defence and Security Forces have done here in Cabo Delgado. It's true that we still have some problems and issues, but I want to congratulate the Defense and Security Forces for what they've already done in coordination with the Rwandan forces," said the representative quoted by the National Press. AIM.

Lately, terrorists have been stepping up their attacks in some districts of Cabo Delgado, causing death and displacement of local populations, burning public and private infrastructure, as well as extorting money from drivers using the province's main roads.

Even so, Arne Gibbs assures that ExxonMobil, through Rovuma LNG, has never stopped its operations in Cabo Delgado, "and is working hard to develop the project in order to streamline actions, in coordination with the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies, which has declared force majeure to suspend all activities at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, due to a major terrorist attack on the city of Palma in April 2021".

Gibbs did not give any dates for the US oil company to make its Final Investment Decision on operations in Area 4, but assured that the work is being done. The source also added that the company is working with the Mozambican government to help local companies take advantage of the supply of local content in Rovuma LNG.