TotalEnergies Seeks Contractor to Build Solar Plant for Mozambique LNG Site

TotalEnergies has opened bidding for the construction of a 7.1-megawatt solar power plant that will supply electricity to its Mozambique LNG project in Afungi, Cabo Delgado Province.

The company is seeking an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor that will build the facility, install the equipment and operate the plant after completion.

The tender marks another step in the restart of work at one of Africa's biggest liquefied natural gas projects.

The planned solar power plant will occupy about 6.5 hectares within the Area 1 Mozambique LNG project. It will use 13,224 solar photovoltaic panels, which TotalEnergies has already purchased. This means the successful contractor will focus mainly on installation, construction and operation of the facility.

When completed, the plant will provide electricity for construction work and daily activities at the LNG site. The use of solar power is expected to reduce the project's reliance on conventional electricity sources and lower carbon emissions linked to site operations.

The contractor will provide engineering services, procure the remaining materials needed for the project and complete the construction work. The company chosen through the tender will also manage the solar plant after it enters operation.

Private bidding process adopted

TotalEnergies is handling the procurement through its internal bidding platform instead of publishing the tender documents on a public website. Companies that meet the required qualifications will receive the bidding documents through the company's private procurement channels.

This approach limits access to the tender documents to selected firms that satisfy the company's requirements. The process is expected to help TotalEnergies manage the project while selecting a contractor with the technical capacity to deliver the solar facility.

The solar project forms part of support infrastructure for the wider Mozambique LNG development. It is expected to improve energy efficiency at the site while helping reduce emissions from day-to-day operations.

The Mozambique LNG project has faced major setbacks in recent years. Construction stopped in April 2021 after TotalEnergies declared force majeure because of armed conflict in Cabo Delgado Province. The security situation forced workers to leave the site and delayed work on the multi-billion-dollar gas project.

Following improvements in security, TotalEnergies lifted the force majeure and restarted activities at the LNG project. The company is now moving ahead with the gas development as well as infrastructure needed to support long-term operations.

The decision to build a solar power plant fits into TotalEnergies' wider plan to use more renewable energy alongside its oil and gas business. The company has invested in renewable energy projects in several countries while continuing work on conventional energy developments.

The new facility is expected to help supply cleaner electricity to the LNG site without replacing the gas project itself. Instead, it will support construction and operational activities while cutting the amount of power sourced from conventional systems.

The Mozambique LNG project is one of Africa's largest natural gas developments. It is located in the Area 1 concession in Afungi, Cabo Delgado Province, and is operated by a consortium led by TotalEnergies. The project aims to produce liquefied natural gas for export to international markets.