Mozambique Rejects TotalEnergies’ Bid for Private International Airport in Cabo Delgado
A standoff has emerged between French energy giant TotalEnergies and the Mozambican government over the company’s push to establish a private international airport at its Afungi logistics base in Palma, Cabo Delgado. The proposed facility would allow direct flights between Paris and northern Mozambique, bypassing government-controlled airports—a move that clashes with Mozambican aviation laws.
TotalEnergies, which halted operations in Cabo Delgado in 2021 due to insurgent attacks, argues that having its own airport is crucial for the mobility of its executives and the security of its multimillion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. However, the Mozambican government remains firm in its stance that all airports in the country must be managed by state-owned Aeroportos de Moçambique, in accordance with national legislation.
João de Abreu, Chairman of Mozambique’s National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC), confirmed to TORRE.News that negotiations have hit a deadlock. “The company currently has an airstrip in Afungi, which was partially operational before the 2021 attacks, but now they want to turn it into a fully-fledged international airport under their exclusive control. That is not permissible under Mozambican law,” Abreu stated.
Beyond legal concerns, analysts warn that allowing a private entity to operate an international airport could create a quasi-autonomous zone in Palma, raising sovereignty and security risks. The government is particularly wary of potential precedents this could set for other foreign investors.
The impasse adds another layer of uncertainty to the restart of the Mozambique LNG project, which is valued at $20 billion. While TotalEnergies’ CEO recently met with newly elected President Daniel Chapo, it remains unclear whether the airport issue has been tabled as a precondition for the company’s return—on top of the already pressing security concerns.
