The UK government has decided to withdraw funding for a major and controversial gas development in Mozambique, a move welcomed by Friends of the Earth. Business Secretary Peter Kyle announced the reversal of a 2020 decision by Boris Johnson’s government to provide $1.15 billion in support for the liquefied natural gas project through UK Export Finance (UKEF), the country’s official export credit agency.
The Mozambique gas project has been criticized for its enormous climate impact, with estimates suggesting it could produce around 4.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime—exceeding the combined annual emissions of all 27 EU countries. The project has also faced serious allegations of human rights abuses, including recent accusations against its developer, TotalEnergies, of complicity in war crimes.
Friends of the Earth, alongside its Mozambican counterpart JA!, has campaigned for years against UK support for the project, including through legal challenges. In October 2024, the organisation’s lawyers warned the UK government that recent developments in climate litigation, such as the landmark ‘Finch’ ruling, meant the previous climate assessment could no longer be legally relied upon.
While the UK’s withdrawal of funding does not cancel the project entirely, it may influence other countries to reconsider their support. Asad Rehman, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth, praised the decision, calling the Mozambique gas project a “huge carbon timebomb” linked to serious human rights abuses. He urged other nations backing the project to end their support and recommended that the UK redirect resources to help Mozambique adapt to the climate crisis and invest in clean energy solutions to address widespread energy poverty.
The project is being developed by French company TotalEnergies, with UKEF previously agreeing to provide approximately $1.15 billion in loans and guarantees to banks and British companies involved. Friends of the Earth hopes that countries such as Italy, Japan, the USA, South Africa, and the Netherlands will reconsider their involvement in the project following the UK’s lead.
