A billion dollars in financing for the Total-led Mozambique LNG project could be withdrawn if the UK government loses a legal challenge over its support for the project, campaigners say.

Total is expecting at least a year’s delay at its $20bn Mozambique LNG project due to the escalating security crisis in the Cabo Delgado, Jean-Pierre Sbraire, chief financial officer at the French oil major said on Thursday

All work at the LNG site has been suspended, but Total may have only declared force majeure with the government on its exploration and production concession contract, and not with its contractors -- yet

Thousands of people who fled the attacks in Palma are now stuck between police brutality, starvation and sickness, and treacherous sea voyages to escape the area

Total has not declared force majeure on its project since the attack on Palma, but contractors fear it could be a year or more before work resumes

Total pulled all its staff out of the Mozambique LNG project today, leaving the security of the mothballed project entirely in the hands of Mozambique’s defence and security forces

Around 170 people who attempted to flee the Hotel Amarula in Palma, Cabo Delgado on Friday afternoon fell into an ambush by Islamist insurgents — with at least seven killed but likely many more

Mozambique’s national oil company, ENH, could be burdened with more than $700m of unpaid debt when the Coral South FLNG project reaches the end of its economic life, if the Exxon-led Rovuma LNG project does not move ahead, according to recent analysis by the World Bank

Total says it expects to restart construction work at Afungi soon, thanks to security improvements put in place by the government

There is no doubt that the Mozambican government sees the security of the LNG projects as a vital national interest, but it is unlikely to attempt to guarantee that security with French or US troops