Construction works on the Total SA liquefied natural gas plant in June.
Total SE has asked a number of staff to leave its $ 20 billion project in Mozambique for liquefied natural gas as Islamist militants are carrying out attacks closer to the site.
Islamic State-affiliated fighters this week raided a city less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the construction camp of what is Africa’s largest private investment, adding to the risks to the planned LNG export terminal on Mozambique’s north coast . While the high-security site has not yet been attacked, militants have voiced the threat.
Total “has temporarily downsized its workforce on site in response to prevailing conditions,” the company said in an email response to inquiries Friday. The situation is under constant review, he said.
Read more: Mozambique insurgents carry out closest attack to date on Total LNG site
The South African nation has so far struggled to contain an uprising in Cabo Delgado province that began in October 2017 that killed around 2,500 people while 570,000 had to flee their homes.
Mozambique hopes that LNG projects like Total’s will transform and catapult one of the world’s poorest countries into a major global exporter of the fuel.
The coronavirus pandemic has further weighed on the decision to reduce staff, Total said.
The Mozambique LNG project, due to start in 2024, was the site of the first cases of coronavirus in the country in April, putting work on hold until June. A new outbreak had been detected at the project last month, Maputo-based news website @Verdade reported.
Total has a 26.5% stake in the project it purchased for $ 3.9 billion in September 2019.
– With the help of Borges Nhamire