The Rovuma LNG Project is a proposed liquefied natural gas development planned for Cabo Delgado province in northeastern Mozambique, Africa’s largest LNG plant. The project involves the construction of an LNG export terminal with an estimated investment of $30 billion and is intended to be one of the largest LNG facilities in Africa. ExxonMobil is the operator of the project, in partnership with Eni and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Project discussions are taking place as Mozambique’s government considers security conditions in the Cabo Delgado region, where an insurgency has affected energy developments in recent years. The government is also assessing steps toward lifting a force majeure declaration imposed following earlier security incidents. Separately, plans by TotalEnergies to resume work on a nearby LNG project in the same region are also under consideration.

Other than Africa’s largest LNG project, Mozambique is also making strides in the Mozambique LNG project estimated at $20 billion. TotalEnergies has noted it is formally restarting the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project. The project sees a restart after a five-year hiatus following Islamic linked violence across Mozambique. The commencement of the project has been continuously pushed in 2025 as the government and TotalEnergies assessed on when to lift the force majuere. The project will re-establish Mozambique as an important player in the global liquefied natural gas market and boost its economy, the state-owned newspaper said. The government is hopeful that the project will have no more hiccups as the president noted his remarks.

French oil major TotalEnergies has noted that it has lifted the force majuere on the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project. The move comes four years after an islamist militant attack brought construction to a halt. Notice was sent to the Mozambican government via letter on Friday as noted by a TotalEnergies press officer. However, the company noted the project would only be relaunched once the government had approved an updated budget and schedule. “Before fully relaunching the project, Mozambique’s council of ministers needs to approve an addendum to the plan of development,” the company said.

Project Factsheet

Importance:

• Proposed $30 billion Cabo Delgado liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Mozambique.
• Will be Africa’s largest LNG plant.
• Expected to fundamentally reshape Mozambique’s economy and energy export profile.

Facilities:

• Rovuma LNG project to be developed in partnership with Eni and CNPC.
• Located within the gas-rich Rovuma Basin, targeting large offshore reserves.
• Capacity strategically planned with a view to positioning Mozambique as an LNG global hub.

Developer/Consortium:

• Owned by ExxonMobil, with partners Eni (Italy) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
• Pipelined into TotalEnergies’ standalone $20 billion Mozambique LNG venture in the same region.
• Supported by the Government of Mozambique under President Daniel Chapo.

Funding/Timeline:

• Project investment estimated at $30 billion.
• Project timeline pushed back due to insurgency-related security threats in Cabo Delgado.
• Investment choice held up for security guarantees; engagement with Mozambique government in progress.
• Restart of TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project planned as a stepping stone for the revival of Rovuma LNG.

State of Affairs Regarding Africa’s Largest LNG Plant and Other LNG Projects in Mozambique

The nature of security in Mozambique is making it hard for decisions on Africa’s largest LNG plant and other plants to take time. Work on Rovuma LNG and Total’s Mozambique LNG project has been on hold since a massacre of 800 people. The atrocities were committed by Islamist militants seeking control of the town of Palma in 2021. However, Total is now seeking to restart its $20 billion project in the belief the security in the region has improved. Recently, the company launched a new road project in Palma, signifying that the Mozambique LNG project is ready to resume.

The meeting between Woods, Exxon’s head of upstream Dan Ammann and Chapo took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. In an emailed statement, President Chapo noted that the ExxonMobil project, if implemented, will be elemental to the country. For instance, he noted it would make a difference in Mozambique’s economy and the life of Mozambicans.

A spokesperson from Exxon noted that the company was working closely with Total, the Mozambique government, and its partners in the Rovuma project. Their aim is to ensure the right conditions are met to enable a final investment decision on the current development and the $30 billion LNG project, reflecting the same cautious strategy seen when ExxonMobil paused its $10 billion plastics plant in Texas amid shifting market headwinds.