Page 5 - GLNG Week 13 2021

GLNG COMMENTARY GLNG

wreak a certain amount of havoc in the region. construction, Total has evacuated more staff
Since ASWJ functions as the local arm of the ter- members and scaled back operations once
rorist group known as Islamic State (Daesh), its again. Instead of remaining secure within the
clash with FADM has wider geopolitical impli- perimeter marked out by Mozambique’s govern-
cations. It could also spur diplomatic tensions ment, it has seen ASWJ ambush hotels in Palma
between Mozambique and neighbouring states, where some of its employees were taking shelter.
some of which have already expressed concern Additionally, rather than working to keep itself
about the possibility that refugees from Cabo out of the fray, it has heard Mozambican offi-
Delgado may cross into their territory. cials such as Omar Saranga, a spokesman for the
Ministry of Defence, inform the public that the
Another ramp-down Islamists are deliberately and specifically target-
These considerations are serious enough on ing gas projects.
their own. But they look even more serious in
light of the large-scale investments contemplated Lessons to be learned
by Mozambique LNG and the other consortia – Mozambique’s government is seeking help
and in light of the fact that ASWJ is now openly from the international community, in that it has
targeting project sites. moved beyond working with foreign security
In recent months, the Islamist group’s troops contractors with unsavoury reputations such as ASWJ may very
have been moving closer and closer to the com- South Africa’s Dyck Advisory Group (DAG). It
plex that Mozambique LNG is building on the has accepted Portugal’s offer of military training well step up
Afungi Peninsula. Last August, they forced Total and has brought US military advisors and spe- attacks on
to stop using the port of Mocimboa da Praia as cial forces into the country for counter-terrorism
its main delivery point for equipment needed training. Mozambique LNG
to build the LNG plant. Last November and Even so, ASWJ has seen that attacks on gas
December, they staged a series of attacks that installations get results. They may not lead facilities in the
led the French company to ramp down opera- to clear territorial gains, but they do attract a
tions and evacuate thousands of workers from great deal of attention (and they may also be near term.
its onshore construction site in January. encouraging Islamic State loyalists to travel to
These events have thus far not deterred Total. Mozambique). Additionally, they bring FADM
The French major has remained committed to troops to Cabo Delgado, thereby exacerbating
resuming work and has been in negotiations long-standing tensions between the province
with Mozambican authorities on the establish- and the central government while creating even
ment of a security perimeter in the area. These more disorder.
talks appear to have been fruitful, and Total was As such, ASWJ may very well step up attacks
indicating before March 24 that it intended to on Mozambique LNG facilities in the near
resume work before the end of the month. term. Officials in Maputo will therefore have to
However, these hopes have now been dashed. demonstrate their commitment to turning the
Rather than returning workers to the Afungi tide in order to reassure Total – and the other
Peninsula site and stepping up the pace of investors that hope to learn from its example.™

Week 13 01•April•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P5