The oil company Total reaffirms that it intends to deliver the first cargo of gas from the Mozambique LNG project, in the Rovuma Basin, Cabo Delgado, in 2024.
In a joint statement with the Mozambican government, the Area 1 operating company announces that the project will progressively resume construction activities in Afungi following additional security measures at the site.
Following the insecurity events that occurred in December last year near the Mozambique LNG project site, which led to the temporary demobilization of the workforce, Total and the Government of Mozambique have worked together to define an action plan to sustainably strengthen the security of the Afungi development site, the surrounding area and the surrounding villages.
The Government declared the area in a 25 kilometer perimeter around the Mozambique LNG project a special operation zone.
A comprehensive roadmap has been defined, including the strengthening of security infrastructure and Defense and Security Forces, allowing for a gradual remobilization of the project’s workforce and the resumption of construction activities at the LNG plant, as well as community development programs carried out by the project.
According to Total’s source, the control of the special operation zone around the project in Afungi continues to be ensured exclusively by the Defense and Security Forces, designated by the ministries of National Defense and Interior, under the memorandum of understanding signed in July 2020 between the Government and the company.
“The Government of Mozambique is committed that the personnel assigned to the protection of the Mozambique LNG project act in accordance with the voluntary principles on security and human rights and international human rights standards.
The Mozambique LNG Project, which is responsible for the security of the construction site, does not use the services of any armed private security providers,” assures Total. It adds that the Mozambique LNG project has met all suspensive conditions, as well as the applicable legal requirements for the disbursement of project financing, under the terms established asito credit and export agencies, 19 commercial banks, and the African Development Bank. The first disbursement will occur in early April 2021.
