Exxon Mobil (XOM) canceled a public appearance with Mozambique’s president to announce a renewed push for a $30 billion liquefied natural gas terminal in the country, the Financial Times reported late Wednesday.
Exxon (XOM) signed memorandums of understanding with the Mozambique government earlier in the day to establish a training center and advance local energy projects following a private meeting between senior company executives and Mozambique’s President Chapo at Exxon’s Houston headquarters, FT reported, but a joint media briefing with the president and Exxon executives was canceled.
Exxon’s (XOM) Rovuma LNG and a rival project led by TotalEnergies (TTE) are facing growing calls for delays over concerns that an Islamic insurgency in the area is intensifying and that the restart of major investments by western oil companies could inflame the situation.
The meeting at Exxon’s (XOM) Houston campus followed a decision by TotalEnergies (TTE) to proceed with its own $20 billion LNG project in the same region of Mozambique, determining it was safe to proceed.
Exxon (XOM) is expected to announce a final investment decision early next year on its gas terminal, which would be the largest in Africa.