France thrusts Mozambique into the fossil fuel trap
Between 2010 and 2013, huge gas deposits were discovered in Mozambique. Around 5 trillion cubic meters were found, making this the 9th largest gas reserve in the world. Over the coming years, a projected minimum of 60 billion USD is set to be invested in the exploitation of these reserves, amounting to the largest investment ever made in Sub-Saharan Africa. French company Total is leading the Mozambique LNG project and the French government is also involved in the gas industry in Mozambique.
This investment would be 50 times the money collected by the UN to fund reconstruction efforts in Mozambique after the ravages of tropical cyclones Kenneth and Idaï in 2019. The gas industry ‘windfall’ is already proving a curse for the population of Mozambique, especially for local communities caught up in an increasingly violent conflict.
This report details the corrupt relationship between the French government and gas industry in Mozambique.
- Full report (French | Portuguese)
- Executive summary (English)