French oil company TotalEnergies is awaiting the outcome of the electoral cycle underway in the country to resume the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project that has been suspended for four years in Afungi, in Palma, Cabo Delgado province, due to insecurity.

A publication by AIM says that the information was shared a few days ago in New York by the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, at a press conference to take stock of his four-day working visit to the United States of America (USA), where he reiterated that TotalEnergies maintains its decision to resume the project, although without a definitive date.

"At this electoral moment, everyone likes to be sure to see how things turn out. So there is a coincidence of events in Mozambique and here (USA). I'd like them to ask that question next year, so we don't embarrass the politicians," said the Mozambican statesman.

Filipe Nyusi reiterated that TotalEnergies will continue with the Area 1 project in the Rovuma Basin, in Cabo Delgado, and then said that "nobody puts money into a time of uncertainty".

Budgeted at around 20 billion dollars, the largest private investment underway in Africa, TotalEnergies has suspended activities due to "force majeure" until safety conditions allow work to resume.

In recent months, terrorist attacks have decreased significantly, which is why the Military Missions of the Southern African Development Community (SAMIM) and the European Union in Mozambique (EUTM) ended their actions in the country in June and September respectively.

The FDS managed to restore state authority in all the districts that had been taken over by terrorists in Cabo Delgado. However, Nyusi said that TotalEnergies must be sure that its investment is not at risk.

"These projects come in with a lot of money, and nobody puts money, if they're conscious, into swampy ground, at a time of uncertainty," he said.

Nyusi's positioning is also for the projects of US oil multinational ExxonMobil, operator of a consortium in Area 4 for the production of natural gas in the Rovuma Basin.

ExxonMobil is leading the construction and operation of all future LNG facilities related to the Area 4 deep-water block at Rovuma Base, off the coast of Cabo Delgado, operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), a consortium that includes Italian energy company ENI and China's CNPC.

The project has also suffered several postponements as a result of the violence perpetrated by terrorists in some districts of Cabo Delgado. Mozambique is holding the 7th presidential and legislative elections and the 4th for the provincial assemblies, to be held on October 9.

(Photo DR)