TotalEnergies Takes Namibia PEL 83 Operatorship, Restarts 40%-Complete Mozambique LNG
TotalEnergies will operate Namibia’s PEL 83 with a three-well Mopane appraisal in 2026 and partners Galp in Venus blocks eyeing a 2026 FID. It also restarted Mozambique LNG to 40% completion with 4,000 workers, first LNG in 2029, and locked a 10-year, 800 GWh renewable power deal.
1. TotalEnergies Assumes Operatorship of Namibia’s PEL 83 and Partners on Venus Discovery
TotalEnergies has formally taken over operatorship of Petroleum Exploration License 83 in Namibia’s Orange Basin, a block encompassing the Mopane discoveries. Under the revised agreement, partner Galp will acquire interests in PEL 56 and PEL 91, the area hosting the Venus discovery. The companies have scheduled a three-well exploration and appraisal campaign at Mopane for 2026, designed to further delineate recoverable resources and de-risk the project ahead of a development decision. Concurrently, the Venus prospect is being advanced toward a potential final investment decision in 2026, with seismic reprocessing and reservoir evaluation ongoing to underpin partner commitments.
2. TotalEnergies and Galp Reaffirm Long-Term Commitment in Presidential Meeting
During a high-level meeting with the President of Namibia, TotalEnergies’ Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné and Galp’s Chairman Paula Amorim reiterated their long-term investment strategy for the Orange Basin. They provided the Head of State with an update on exploration milestones, including the expected drilling outcomes at Mopane and preparatory work on Venus. The discussions also covered local content programs, with plans to engage Namibian service providers in seismic operations and future field development work, aiming to boost national employment and technical capacity.
3. Mozambique LNG Project Rebooted, Targeting First Production in 2029
TotalEnergies has fully resumed onshore and offshore construction activities at its Mozambique LNG complex following the lifting of Force Majeure in November 2025. The project is currently 40 percent complete, with over 4,000 workers mobilized—including more than 3,000 Mozambican nationals. Deployment of processed equipment during the suspension period has accelerated progress, and first liquefied natural gas is projected by 2029. The initiative is expected to generate approximately 7,000 direct jobs for local communities and channel over $4 billion in contracts to Mozambican companies.
4. Renewable Power Deal Strengthens Africa Strategy
In parallel with its upstream operations, TotalEnergies has signed a 10-year contract to supply 800 GWh of renewable electricity annually to SWM’s three French paper-making facilities. Beginning in January 2026, this ‘clean firm power’ agreement will draw from roughly 50 MW of existing wind and solar assets, underscoring the company’s integrated energy approach and stabilizing electricity revenues while reinforcing its ESG credentials across its international portfolio.