Health authorities in Mozambique have authorized French oil and gas giant Total to resume its natural gas activities on the Afungi Peninsula, in Cabo Delgado.
Total’s operations in Afungi – where it leads a consortium which is building two liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in the region – were halted in April due to reported cases of COVID-19. The suspension of operations in Afungi meant that the plans to continue building the LNG plants were disrupted.
Eduardo Samo Gudo, Deputy General Director of Mozambique’s National Health Institute, said that the outbreak in Afungi has been brought under control, “and this means that activities in Afungi can go back to normal.”
Total’s health measures to keep the development area free of COVID-19 have been approved by the Ministry of Health, but Gudo also highlighted that these measures could imply additional costs.
“Since it’s a closed area, the concern now is not to import cases,” Gudo said. “We are witnessing an acceleration of Covid-19 cases outside the camp, but inside the camp it’s controlled,” he added.
Total is the operator of the Mozambique LNG project, located in the offshore gas fields in Area 1 of the Rovuma Basin. Total holds a 26.5% stake in Mozambique LNG. Its partners are Mitsui of Japan (20%), PTTEP of Thailand (8.5%), the three Indian companies, ONGC Videsh, Bias Rovuma Energy, and BRPL Ventures (10% each), and Mozambique’s national hydrocarbon company, ENH (15%).
