Total Closes Mozambique LNG Purchase

Total has completed the acquisition of Anadarko's 26.5% stake in Mozambique's liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for $3.9 billion, the French oil major said on Monday.

"Mozambique LNG is a one of a kind asset that perfectly fits with our strategy and expands our position in liquefied natural gas," Total chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne said in a statement.

Anadarko, which had led the southern African LNG project, was taken over by Occidental Petroleum Corp. and replaced as Mozambique LNG operator when Total agreed to buy Anadarko's African assets for $8.8 billion as part of the takeover.

Mozambique LNG is the country’s first onshore LNG development. The project includes the development of the Golfinho and Atum fields located within Offshore Area 1 and the construction of a two-trains liquefaction plant with a capacity of 12.9 million tonnes per year (Mt/y). The Area 1 contains more than 60 Tcf of gas resources, of which 18 Tcf will be developed with the first two trains. The final investment decision (FID) on Mozambique LNG was announced on June 18, 2019, and the project is expected to come into production by 2024.

Total said the Mozambique LNG project is largely derisked since almost 90% of the production is already sold through long-term contracts with key LNG buyers in Asia and in Europe. 

Total operates Mozambique LNG with a 26.5% participating interest alongside ENH Rovuma Área Um, S.A. (15%), Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area1 Ltd. (20%), ONGC Videsh Ltd. (10%), Beas Rovuma Energy Mozambique Limited (10%), BPRL Ventures Mozambique B.V. (10%), and PTTEP Mozambique Area 1 Limited (8.5%).

Following the completion of the Mozambique transaction, Occidental and Total continue to work towards closing the remaining Africa transactions in Algeria, Ghana and South Africa.