The African Energy Chamber has sharply criticized the recent decision by the United Kingdom government to withdraw funding from Mozambique’s natural gas megaproject, led by the French company TotalEnergies, describing the move as a “betrayal of Africa’s right to energy security.”
According to Lusa, the position was made public on Monday (8th) through a press release, in which the Chamber’s president, NJ Ayuk, emphasizes that the withdrawal of British support represents a setback for energy justice on the African continent and undermines efforts to achieve universal access to reliable energy.
“The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from financing Mozambique LNG is a blow to African energy justice; it is a slap in the face to progress for the millions of people who still live without energy,” Ayuk said, warning that this episode should serve as a call to action and proof that Africa’s energy future cannot continue to depend on external financing.
The United Kingdom, through the export credit agency UK Export Finance (UKEF), announced the cancellation of its participation in the Mozambique LNG project, as did the Netherlands, whose agency Atradius also withdrew from the consortium. The joint decision represents approximately 10% of external financing, estimated at 1.1 billion dollars. Despite this withdrawal, TotalEnergies confirmed that the project will continue and that the remaining partners agreed to cover the shortfall with additional capital.
The African Energy Chamber considers that this decision reflects the interference of Western political and ideological agendas in African development processes, at a time when global energy markets are under high pressure. “The United Kingdom seems more committed to ideological considerations than to practical solutions to combat persistent energy poverty in Africa,” Ayuk emphasized.
Recalling that the security challenges that led to the suspension of TotalEnergies’ operations in Cabo Delgado in 2021 have been largely mitigated, the Chamber notes that the United States Export-Import Bank (US Eximbank) reapproved a loan to the project in 2025, demonstrating increased confidence in local stability.
The energy body argues that liquefied natural gas projects in Africa should be promoted and defended by Africans, for Africans, with priority given to job creation and the fight against energy poverty.
“Africa does not need moral lessons on climate from nations that consume energy at levels incomparably higher than African needs,” added the Chamber’s president, stressing that the continent needs partnerships that respect its timelines, priorities, and sovereignty in the development process.
Mozambique currently has three approved megaprojects for gas exploration in the Rovuma Basin, off the coast of Cabo Delgado province, considered one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves.
