The Japanese Ambassador to Mozambique, Hamada Keiji, has expressed his country’s willingness to work with the Government to help maintain peace and restore stability and security in Cabo Delgado province, northern Mozambique — conditions that will influence the resumption of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by TotalEnergies in Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin.
The ambassador recalled that Japan holds a 20% stake in the project through Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Limited, stressing that “the LNG to be produced will benefit both nations and boost long-term development.”
“Stability benefits not only the Mozambicans living in that province but also the investors in the LNG project. As you know, a Japanese company is part of the consortium led by the French company TotalEnergies,” said Hamada Keiji, as quoted by the Mozambican Information Agency.
Speaking after a meeting with the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Margarida Talapa, the ambassador assured that the Japanese Government will continue to support victims of terrorism and that assistance to the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) will be intensified.
“We discussed our cooperation activities in Cabo Delgado province, based on two pillars: first, humanitarian aid through United Nations agencies; second, cooperation for stability through the Ministry of the Interior of Mozambique,” he said. Keiji also mentioned that the two parties discussed “future exchanges between the Mozambican and Japanese parliaments,” proposing the creation of “a parliamentary friendship group.”
Recently, the President of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, stated that the oil and gas company TotalEnergies should lift the “force majeure” clause it invoked in 2021 following the escalation of terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado.
“The most important thing now with TotalEnergies is to lift the ‘force majeure’ and move forward with the project. No matter how many development plans are signed, without lifting the ‘force majeure,’ we’re doing nothing,” the president declared.
Meanwhile, TotalEnergies has announced that it plans to resume development of its mega LNG project in the coming months. The update came from the company’s CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, during his address at the Japan Energy Summit held in Tokyo in June.
When asked about the timeline, Pouyanné said the company is ready to restart activities in the coming months, reiterating its commitment to the investment, which is valued at around USD 20 billion. The decision is being driven by the significant improvement in security conditions in Cabo Delgado, thanks to joint operations by Mozambique’s Defense and Security Forces, SADC troops, and Rwandan military contingents.
TotalEnergies previously said it has maintained ongoing dialogue with national authorities to ensure that the restart prioritizes stability and sustainability.
Mozambique LNG, considered one of Africa’s largest liquefied natural gas projects, is expected to reach an initial annual production capacity of 12.8 million tonnes. Its completion is seen as a strategic milestone for Mozambique’s economy, with the potential to generate substantial revenues and position the country as a key player in the global energy market.
The Mozambique LNG project includes the development of the Golfinho and Atum fields in Offshore Area 1 and the construction of a liquefaction plant with two units capable of producing 13.1 million tonnes per year. Area 1 contains more than 60 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas resources, of which 18 Tcf will be developed in the first two liquefaction trains.
Total E&P Mozambique Area 1, Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, operates the Mozambique LNG project with a 26.5% stake, alongside:
- ENH Rovuma Area 1, S.A. (15%)
- Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1 Limited (20%)
- ONGC Videsh Rovuma Limited (10%)
- Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique Limited (10%)
- BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. (10%)
- PTTEP Mozambique Area 1 Limited (8.5%)
Source: DE
