Total has suspended onshore construction activities at its $20 billion Mozambique LNG project following new attacks near the Afungi site.
The move comes just days after the France-based energy giant said it would progressively resume construction activities at the Afungi site due to additional site security measures.
Total said in a statement that no project staff members were among the victims of the latest attacks that took place in the town of Palma in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado. The town is located about 10 kilometers from the LNG site.
The company said it has decided to reduce the level of the workforce at the Afungi site to “a strict minimum.”
“Total trusts the government of Mozambique whose public security forces are currently working to take back the control of the area,” it said.
To remind, Total announced in the statement prior to these attacks that the government of Mozambique has declared the area within a 25 km perimeter surrounding the Mozambique LNG project as a special security area.
In addition, the firm said control of the 25 km zone remains ensured exclusively by Mozambique’s public security forces.
Total also confirmed its objective to deliver Mozambique LNG’s first cargoes in 2024.
The project’s EPC contractor is CCS JV, a venture between Saipem, McDermott, and Chiyoda.
The project includes the development of offshore gas fields in Mozambique’s Area 1 and a 12.8 mtpa liquefaction plant at the Afungi complex.
Mozambique LNG will also have a fleet of dedicated LNG carriers.
Besides Total, other partners in the project are Japan’s Mitsui, Mozambique’s ENH, Thailand’s PTT, and Indian firms ONGC, Bharat Petroleum, and Oil India.