Oil India says the long-stalled Mozambique liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, led by TotalEnergies, is set to resume operations by late 2025, marking a major step forward for one of Africa’s biggest energy ventures.

The $20 billion Rovuma Area 1 development has been on hold since April 2021, when insurgent violence in Cabo Delgado province forced TotalEnergies to declare force majeure. With security conditions now improving, Oil India and its partners are preparing to restart construction.

Oil India, together with ONGC Videsh and Bharat PetroResources, holds a 30% stake in the project, giving Indian companies a significant foothold in Mozambique’s gas-rich basin. TotalEnergies is the operator with a 26.5% interest, while Mitsui & Co. owns 20%, Mozambique’s national oil company ENH has 15%, and Thailand’s PTTEP holds the remaining share.

The development is designed to produce 13.1 million tonnes of LNG annually from two trains, with 11.1 million tonnes already committed under long-term contracts to buyers across Asia and Europe—including India.

Oil India chairman Ranjit Rath said the restart will strengthen India’s gas supply security and allow Mozambique to rejoin the ranks of leading LNG exporters. He also highlighted that Oil India has been able to generate nearly $1 billion in dividends from its Russian investments, recovering more than 90% of its original stake.

According to the company’s 2024–25 annual report, Oil India’s share of Rovuma Area 1 reserves stands at 16.2 million tonnes of natural gas and about 460,000 tonnes of condensate. TotalEnergies has already drawn up an action plan for restarting the project once the suspension is lifted.

The venture partners approved the final investment decision in 2019 and secured financing in 2021, just before unrest forced a shutdown. If the restart proceeds as planned, Mozambique LNG will not only revive stalled energy ambitions in Africa but also provide a major boost to India’s long-term gas strategy.