Context and Background
As Mozambique prepares to resume onshore LNG operations in Cabo Delgado, local and international observers have raised fresh concerns about community safety and human-rights protections in the region. The planned restart of TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project, suspended since 2021 due to insurgent violence, follows gradual improvements in security led by Rwandan and Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces. However, local communities, civil society groups, and humanitarian organizations continue to report sporadic attacks, restricted mobility, and weak civilian oversight, warning that conditions remain fragile for a sustainable return of large-scale operations.
Stakeholder Dynamics and Assurance Process
The Mozambican government has pressed for the rapid reactivation of the project, emphasizing its strategic importance for economic recovery and fiscal revenues. In contrast, community representatives and rights organizations have called for independent monitoring, transparent security arrangements, and community compensation mechanisms before operations resume. TotalEnergies has maintained that production will only restart once it receives verified guarantees of safety and social stability, with assurance discussions ongoing among government, company, and third-party observers. The company has also reiterated commitments to community resettlement programs and local development initiatives, though implementation remains uneven.
Implications for License to Operate and Investor Confidence
The case underscores the delicate balance between energy investment and social legitimacy in Mozambique’s LNG sector. While the government views the restart as a symbol of national resilience and investor trust, unresolved grievances risk undermining the project’s license to operate. Analysts note that without credible social dialogue, transparent revenue-sharing, and sustained humanitarian coordination, the region could relapse into instability once full-scale operations resume. The resumption talks thus represent a pivotal test of whether Mozambique can align security stabilization with inclusive development, ensuring that LNG revenues translate into tangible benefits for affected communities.