Mozambique’s energy minister says he’s optimistic that French oil major TotalEnergies will resume its $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the country this summer — despite the force majeure status still being in place.

Speaking in Tokyo after a meeting with Japan’s industry minister, Estevao Pale confirmed that while the government hasn’t received a formal request from TotalEnergies to lift the force majeure, discussions and progress continue.

“We, as government, are doing everything that we can to be able to resume the project,” Pale said. “We are working together with all partners on the project to create the security conditions favourable to restart the project,” he added, noting that conditions on the ground had “improved considerably.”

The project has been frozen since 2021 due to insurgent attacks in northern Mozambique, leading TotalEnergies to declare force majeure. The development includes the Golfinho and Atum gas fields and a two-train liquefaction plant with an annual capacity of 13.12 million metric tons.

TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne, speaking in Tokyo earlier this week, said the company expects to restart work “this summer.”

The French energy giant leads the project with a 26.5% stake. Other stakeholders include Japan’s Mitsui & Co (20%), Mozambique’s state-owned ENH (15%), along with Indian state firms and Thailand’s PTTEP.

“The force majeure will be lifted as soon as the project’s operator determines conditions are in place to resume operations,” Pale emphasized.

The Mozambique LNG project is seen as a potential game-changer for both the country’s economy and the global gas market.