Good afternoon. Following confirmation that work on the LNG project in Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin will resume, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said in Beijing on Tuesday that it will be up to the government of Mozambique to approve the lifting of the force majeure.
While the announcement is positive, it is puzzling to hear that the government holds the key to authorising the end of the force majeure status, which has been in place since April 2021 following the devastating attack in Palma on 24 March of that year.
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Until now, the government has voiced frustration over the slow pace at which Area 1 partners have reassessed the situation, despite a substantial improvement in security — particularly due to the presence of a Rwandan military contingent in Cabo Delgado since July 2021. That force, along with a Mozambican joint task force (JTF), formerly directly subsidised by LNG project partners, has focused on securing the key districts of Palma and Mocímboa da Praia.
