A critical liquefied natural gas (LNG) project was put on hold in the Cabo Delgado region after a 2021 attack on people, and the president of TotalEnergies met with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on Friday to examine the humanitarian situation there.

The French business announced on Friday that its chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne had been to the Cabo Delgado region to assess the security and humanitarian situation. Pouyanne also claimed that during his journey, he had met with the president of Mozambique.

TotalEnergies added it had entrusted Jean-Christophe Rufin, whom it said was an expert in humanitarian action and human rights, with an independent mission to assess the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado province.

TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project, valued at $20 billion, had to declare ‘force majeure’ in 2021 due to regional unrest after an insurgent group linked to Islamic State attacked the northern town of Palma.

Force majeure is a clause in contracts that allows parties to walk away when circumstances beyond their control occur, such as terrorist attacks.

“Since 2021, the situation in Cabo Delgado province has improved significantly, thanks in particular to the support provided by the African countries that committed themselves to restore peace and security,” Pouyanné said in a statement.

“The mission entrusted to Jean-Christophe Rufin should enable Mozambique LNG’s partners to assess whether the current situation allows for a resumption of activities while respecting human rights,” he added.