TotalEnergies’ chief executive Patrick Pouyanne visited the abandoned construction site of its stalled $20 billion Mozambique LNG plan today and laid the foundation for a possible resumption of work on the huge scheme by entrusting an independent human rights expert to assess the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado province which has been hard hit by an Islamist insurgency.

The supermajor declared force majeure on the project nearly two years ago after insurgents attacked the town of Palma, close to the Afungi site where the liquefaction facilities will be built.