TotalEnergies has appointed a new country manager to rekindle Mozambique LNG Project. The company is currently reviewing the resumption of activities at its $20 billion Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project in Mozambique after ongoing operational delays due to the rising insurgency in the Northern region.
Considering the evolution of the security situation in the north of the Cabo Delgado province last year, Total withdrew of all Mozambique LNG project personnel from the Afungi site.
The new country manager, Maxime Rabilloud, arrived in Maputo a few days ago to replaces Ronan Bescond who will now join the Australian arm of the group.
With 22 years of experience in the French oil company, Maxime Rabilloud has solid experience to bring to a positive conclusion the Mozambique LNG Project that has been suspended since December 2020.
Rabilloud spent the last 12 years in Lusophone countries, starting in Angola as general counsel and then managed Total’s business in Brazil at various levels of responsibility, including leading the subsidiary from 2015 to 2018. Since then, he has been general counsel for Total E&P.
READ: Restart of works at Mozambique LNG project suspended
According to Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), prolonged interruption, although delaying the project by one year, is not anticipated to impact its long-term viability.
The AfDB, having committed $400 million in guarantees and direct lending to the project, is keen to see the return of TotalEnergies to the country and the resumption of activities at one of Africa’s most lucrative development projects.
The possible resumption comes after African military forces were deployed by the Southern African Development Community to stabilize the region. Authorities have been working to reestablish security at the country’s developing LNG projects.
“The return of security in that place will give assurances to Total and others to return. In one year to 18 months, I expect it to be stabilized enough to get back on track,” stated Adesina.
Maxime Rabilloud is expected to use his wealth of experience in both the company and complex projects to drive the project’s success.