Italian energy engineering firm Saipem has announced its expectation that construction on the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project will recommence before the end of the 2025 summer season. The project, which has been under force majeure since 2021, was originally suspended in response to escalating insecurity in the Cabo Delgado province.
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture, led by French energy major TotalEnergies, represents one of the most substantial foreign direct investments ever committed to the African continent. The project is situated near the town of Palma, an area that has witnessed recurrent violence attributed to insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State.
In March 2021, insurgent forces launched a violent offensive on Palma, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread displacement. The security deterioration prompted TotalEnergies to halt all operations and evacuate personnel, thereby invoking force majeure and suspending construction indefinitely.
Over the ensuing four years, the operator has maintained that a resumption would only be viable once clear benchmarks around safety and stability were achieved. While an earlier plan aimed to resume activity by late 2024, continued unrest and political instability—including a disputed presidential election in Mozambique—delayed the timeline further. The original forecast for first gas production has now been pushed from 2027 to 2029.
Speaking to Reuters on 24 July, Saipem’s Chief Executive Officer Alessandro Puliti confirmed a progressive sequence of restart operations is planned over the coming weeks. He described the resumption as a “progression of activities” that would culminate in the official lifting of the force majeure clause. Puliti also clarified that much of the heavy equipment needed for the LNG facility is being transported to the site via maritime routes, citing logistical efficiencies rather than ongoing security risks.
The sentiment was echoed by TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, who in June affirmed the company’s readiness to resume construction during the summer months of 2025, contingent upon continued improvement in the security landscape.
The Cabo Delgado region has seen modest gains in stability due to the presence of multinational security forces, including those deployed under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwandan military support. However, observers caution that while insurgent activity has declined in frequency, latent threats remain and could still pose operational risks to major infrastructure undertakings.
As of now, no formal declaration has been issued confirming the lifting of force majeure, but indications from both Saipem and TotalEnergies suggest that a critical turning point may have been reached. If construction resumes as anticipated, it would mark a significant milestone not only for Mozambique’s energy ambitions but also for broader regional economic integration and development.
