We use essential cookies and third-party cookies for content.

Deutsche Tageszeitung - ExxonMobil relaunches natural gas project in Mozambique

ExxonMobil relaunches natural gas project in Mozambique

POLITICS 20.11.2025
ExxonMobil relaunches natural gas project in Mozambique
ExxonMobil relaunches natural gas project in Mozambique / Photo: © AFP/File

US energy giant ExxonMobil announced Thursday the resumption of its gas development project in Mozambique, which had been suspended for several years due to a jihadist insurgency.

Change text size:

"We have lifted force majeure (FM) for the Rovuma LNG project in Area 4," the company said in a statement, referring to a legal concept that is invoked to suspend a project when there are unforeseen or adverse conditions.

ExxonMobil holds a 25 percent stake in the planned onshore liquefied natural gas facility in the southeastern African country that is expected to begin production in 2030.

A jihadist insurgency in Cabo Delgado, a northern province, has left more than 6,200 people dead since 2017, according to the NGO Acled, which collects data on conflict zones.

However, it was a jihadist offensive in March 2021 that caused some 800 deaths and led oil companies to suspend their projects in the region.

According to ExxonMobil's website, Area 4 is operated by a joint venture called Mozambique Rovuma Venture.

The venture is 70 percent owned by a consortium -- ExxonMobil, the Italian ENI, and the Chinese CNPC -- while XRG (Abu Dhabi), KOGAS (South Korea), and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos each hold a 10 percent stake.

"We are working with our partners and the government of Mozambique to ensure the safety of our people and facilities, as we look to develop a world-class LNG project that can help drive economic growth," said the oil giant, which is based in Spring, Texas.

It specified that planning was nearing completion and the final investment decision should be made during the course of 2026.

In October, ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods said the company was optimistic about moving ahead with a liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique, where NGOs have loudly criticized a plan by French petroleum giant TotalEnergies to resume work.

Woods that month hosted the president of Mozambique in Houston and rated the meeting as "really productive."

TotalEnergies announced on October 25 that it had lifted the force majeure and resumed its own project in Mozambique after operations were suspended for four years.

On Wednesday, Mozambique's government announced that it would audit losses caused by the suspension of the French group's project.

When AFP asked the company about it on Thursday, ExxonMobil did not indicate whether it also planned to seek compensation for losses.

(Y.Leyard--DTZ)

Featured

Iran Warns South Korea Against Naval Expansion Near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has formally warned South Korea against deploying naval forces near the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing Seoul’s plan to extend the mission of its antipiracy unit as a hostile act tied to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The diplomatic dispute arises as South Korea seeks legislative approval to broaden the operational scope of the Cheonghae Unit.

Miss Universe Visa Controversy: Zambia and Congo Winners Denied Entry

The winners of the Miss Universe pageant representing Zambia and the Republic of the Congo have been unable to obtain visas to enter the United States. This development underscores the impact of sweeping travel restrictions imposed by the US government during Donald Trump's second administration, which have affected dozens of countries, particularly those in Africa.

Judge Denies Peltola Campaign’s Request for Alaska Absentee Ballot Data

An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a lawsuit filed by the campaign of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola, which sought detailed data on rejected absentee ballots from the Alaska Division of Elections. The ruling halts the campaign’s attempt to identify voters whose ballots were invalidated and understand the specific reasons for those rejections while the state continues its critical vote-counting operations.

Mkhwanazi and Former Ekurhuleni Officials to Face Court Over Blue Lights Scandal

Former Ekurhuleni metropolitan police department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and three former senior municipal officials are set to stand trial in the regional court on February 25, 2027. The case centers on allegations that the group facilitated the installation of unauthorized blue lights on vehicles linked to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala through fraudulent agreements.

Change text size: