Funders urged to stop backing TotalEnergies’ Mozambique project
Environmental lobby groups want support withdrawn as French firm prepares to relaunch Africa’s largest foreign direct investment project
17 November 2023 - 09:00
byWendell Roelf
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Banks and other financiers should withdraw their support of TotalEnergies’ $20bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Mozambique, environmental lobby groups urged in a letter sent to more than two dozen project funders on Friday.
The letter, seen by Reuters, comes at a crucial juncture for the French energy company as it prepares to relaunch Africa’s largest foreign direct investment project.
Activists warn the project may worsen climate change and fuel human rights abuses in the impoverished southern African nation.
“As a critical financial supporter of the project, you bear a direct and important responsibility in its dreadful impacts,” the letter, supported by more than 100 organisations, including ActionAid International and Greenpeace France, said.
Last month, legislators in the Netherlands said they would insist on being consulted on safety and human rights concerns before they can approve a €1bn loan guarantee for the project, stalled since April 2021.
TotalEnergies said before Friday’s letter that arrangements for project finance remain in place despite a “force majeure” halt in 2021 when Islamist militants threatened the project site.
Financing agreements for the project were struck in 2020 with direct and covered loans from eight export credit agencies, 19 commercial banks and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
About $15bn in financing is being reviewed as part of restarting procedures, a credit official with knowledge of negotiations said.
SA’s Export Credit Insurance Corporation planned to seek board approval early next year to support the project, acting CEO Ntshengedzeni Maphula said.
The project delay has led some investors to reassess their previous cost assumptions in light of inflation and global gas market swings.
The US Exim bank, which is guaranteeing $5bn, said it was conducting due diligence on plans to resume construction.
“Exim will review and evaluate any proposed changes to the terms of its approved financing of the Mozambique LNG project,” Reta Jo Lewis, the bank’s president told Reuters earlier this month.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Funders urged to stop backing TotalEnergies’ Mozambique project
Environmental lobby groups want support withdrawn as French firm prepares to relaunch Africa’s largest foreign direct investment project
Banks and other financiers should withdraw their support of TotalEnergies’ $20bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Mozambique, environmental lobby groups urged in a letter sent to more than two dozen project funders on Friday.
The letter, seen by Reuters, comes at a crucial juncture for the French energy company as it prepares to relaunch Africa’s largest foreign direct investment project.
Activists warn the project may worsen climate change and fuel human rights abuses in the impoverished southern African nation.
“As a critical financial supporter of the project, you bear a direct and important responsibility in its dreadful impacts,” the letter, supported by more than 100 organisations, including ActionAid International and Greenpeace France, said.
Last month, legislators in the Netherlands said they would insist on being consulted on safety and human rights concerns before they can approve a €1bn loan guarantee for the project, stalled since April 2021.
TotalEnergies said before Friday’s letter that arrangements for project finance remain in place despite a “force majeure” halt in 2021 when Islamist militants threatened the project site.
Financing agreements for the project were struck in 2020 with direct and covered loans from eight export credit agencies, 19 commercial banks and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
About $15bn in financing is being reviewed as part of restarting procedures, a credit official with knowledge of negotiations said.
SA’s Export Credit Insurance Corporation planned to seek board approval early next year to support the project, acting CEO Ntshengedzeni Maphula said.
The project delay has led some investors to reassess their previous cost assumptions in light of inflation and global gas market swings.
The US Exim bank, which is guaranteeing $5bn, said it was conducting due diligence on plans to resume construction.
“Exim will review and evaluate any proposed changes to the terms of its approved financing of the Mozambique LNG project,” Reta Jo Lewis, the bank’s president told Reuters earlier this month.
Reuters
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