ExxonMobil Confirms Mozambique LNG Production Could Begin by 2030 if Cabo Delgado Security Improves
ExxonMobil’s general manager in Mozambique, Arne Gibbs, has said that the company’s gas project in Cabo Delgado will only move forward if the security situation in the province continues to improve. The region, rich in natural gas reserves, has faced terrorist attacks since 2017.
Speaking at the 10th Mozambique Gas and Energy Summit and Exhibition in Maputo, Gibbs stressed that “the end of the conflict is crucial to ensuring a sustainable development environment.” He acknowledged progress made by the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in stabilizing Cabo Delgado.
ExxonMobil, operator of Area 4 in the Rovuma Basin, expects to begin production in 2029–2030, once force majeure is lifted and security conditions allow. The project’s initial investment is estimated at over $300 million, including infrastructure expansion in Afungi and the creation of at least 400 direct jobs for Mozambicans.
The Final Investment Decision (FID) is still pending and linked to the resumption of operations in TotalEnergies’ Area 1 project, suspended under force majeure since 2021. Both projects are interconnected.
In October 2024, ExxonMobil awarded McDermott, in partnership with Saipem and China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC), a contract to complete the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the Rovuma LNG project within 16 months.
Rovuma LNG’s first phase is expected to produce 18 million tonnes of LNG annually, making it potentially Africa’s largest LNG development.
The Area 4 consortium is composed of ExxonMobil, Eni, and CNPC, which collectively hold a 70% stake in the concession. Gibbs emphasized that the project could transform Mozambique’s energy sector and drive regional economic growth, provided stability is secured.
Mozambique currently has three approved LNG projects in the Rovuma Basin. While TotalEnergies’ onshore development remains suspended, offshore projects like Coral Sul and Coral Norte continue to advance.
