UK Launches Human Rights Investigation Into TotalEnergies’ $20 Billion Mozambique Gas Project
British authorities have commissioned a comprehensive human rights review of TotalEnergies’ massive $20 billion gas development in Mozambique as they evaluate whether to continue funding the controversial project.
UK Export Finance has tasked the legal group Beyond Human Rights Compliance, led by prominent British barrister Wayne Jordash KC, with conducting an assessment of human rights allegations linked to the Mozambique LNG project. The investigation is examining allegations of rights abuses by Mozambican soldiers protecting the project site.
The probe comes as the UK Labour government seeks legal advice on potentially withdrawing support from the project as part of Britain’s transition away from fossil fuels toward green energy. The UK has pledged to stop new export finance for oil and gas projects, though existing commitments remain under review.
The Mozambique LNG project was abruptly halted in 2021 when an Islamist insurgency attacked the nearby town of Palma, killing more than 800 people. TotalEnergies is now working to restart the project, citing improved security conditions in the region.
One focus of the UK investigation concerns allegations that Mozambican soldiers imprisoned local people in shipping containers and committed torture and killings on the Mozambique LNG site. TotalEnergies and Mozambique LNG have previously stated they found no evidence supporting these reports.
The US Export Import Bank unblocked almost $5 billion in funding for the project this year, but UKEF has yet to recommit to approximately $1.15 billion in direct loans and guarantees originally agreed in 2020. Mozambique has since opened criminal proceedings to investigate the allegations, while the country’s national human rights commission is also conducting its own investigation.
Source: ft.com