TotalEnergies’ climate bombs
With plans for oil wells and pipelines in Uganda and Tanzania, gas fields and liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals in Mozambique, Papua New Guinea or the United States, TotalEnergies is multiplying climate bombs projects in 53 countries, far more than its competitors such as Shell (41 countries), Eni (40 countries) or ExxonMobil (39 countries)
Its oil and gas expansion strategy is the opposite of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario ), which aims to keep global warming under 1.5°C. In this scenario, no new oil and gas fields are needed, other than those approved before the end of 2021.
If TotalEnergies’ climate bombs extracted all its resources in production or of expansion, the company could extract more than 33.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe). This would release 12.7 billion tons of CO2e into the atmosphere – almost 33 times France’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 – including 8,1 billion tons due to its new projects.
A distinction can be made between TotalEnergies’ projects in production, its short-term expansion projects – which could start producing in the next few years – and its long-term expansion projects – which are still at an early stage of development.
TotalEnergies plays an essential role in all of these projects. The company can act as operator – responsible for the development, operation and production of the project – or as partner – which participates in the development of a project and receives the benefits.
Among its long-term projects, TotalEnergies has, since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, acquired 72 exploration licenses that are still active today. This clearly shows that the company continues to rely on the exploitation of oil and gas well beyond the limits to keep global warming at 1.5°C.
Sources: Enerdata, Global Oil and Gas Exit List, Rystad Energy, February 2025. CO2e emissions were calculated using the KING metrics.
TotalEnergies is active in the country
TotalEnergies develops new projects in the country
TotalEnergies is active and develops new projects in the country
TotalEnergies has made Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) a central pillar of its strategy. The company is involved in 14 existing LNG infrastructures and is developing the largest number of LNG export terminal projects in the world by 2030, which represent 25% of the terminal capacity planned that year.
If built, TotalEnergies’ 16 LNG export terminal projects will contribute to emitting more than 400 mt CO2 by 2030, the equivalent of France’s annual emissions. Yet, still according to the IEA’s NZE scenario, none of these terminals is needed to meet global gas demand. They will therefore only reinforce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, to the benefit of TotalEnergies and its shareholders.
Country
Project name
Import / Export
Capacity (mtpa)
TotalEnergies’ share
TotalEnergies’ share (mtpa)
Angola
Angola LNG
Export
5.2
13.6%
Australia
Gladstone
Export
7.8
25.7%
Australia
Ichthys
Export
8.9
26%
Egypt
Egyptian LNG
Export
7.2
5%
France
Le Havre FSRU
Import
3.7
100%
India
Dhamra – Eastern Coast LNG
Import
5
50%
Nigeria
NLNG
Export
22.2
15%
Norway
Hammerfest LNG Snohvit Terminal
Export
4.2
18.4%
Oman
Oman LNG
Export
7.6
5.5%
Qatar
Qatargas II
Export
7.8
16.7%
Russia
Yamal LNG
Export
17.4
20%
United Arab Emirates
Das Island
Export
5.9
5%
United Kingdom
South Hook LNG
Import
15.6
8.4%
United States
Cameron LNG
Export
13.5
16.6%
Source : Global Energy Monitor, February 2025.
Country
Project name
Import / Export
Capacity (mtpa)
TotalEnergies’ share
TotalEnergies’ share (mtpa)
Mexico
ECA LNG – extension
Export
3.3
16.6%
Nigeria
NLNG – extension
Export
4.2
15%
Qatar
North Field East – extension
Export
33
6.3%
Qatar
North Field South – extension
Export
16
9.4%
Source : Global Energy Monitor, February 2025.
Country
Project name
Import / Export
Capacity (mtpa)
TotalEnergies’ share
TotalEnergies’ capacity (mtpa)
Australia
Ichthys FLNG – extension
Export
Unknown
26%
Mexico
ECA LNG – extension
Export
12
16.6%
Mozambique
Matola LNG FSRU
Import
5.7
33%
Mozambique
Mozambique LNG (suspended)*
Export
22.9
26.5%
Nigeria
Brass LNG
Export
10
17%
Oman
Marsa LNG
Export
1
80%
Papua New Guinea
Papua LNG
Export
5.6
40.1%
Russia
Arctic LNG 2 (suspended)*
Export
20.9
10%
United-Kingdom
South Hook LNG – extension
Import
4.6
8.4%
United States
Cameron LNG – extension
Export
6.8
16.6%
Unites States
Rio Grande LNG (suspended)*
Export
17.6
16.7%
United States
Rio Grande LNG – extension
Export
10.8
16.7%
Source : Global Energy Monitor, february 2025.
NB: the Arctic LNG 2 project has been suspended since 2022 due to western sanctions on Russian gas. The Mozambique LNG project has been suspended since 2021, following several armed attacks in the region. The Rio Grande LNG project has been suspended following a court decision in 2024.
Contested projects
Each of TotalEnergies’ new projects creates a number of problems: greenhouse gas emissions, damaging impacts for the environment and biodiversity, human rights violations, negative impacts for local populations and false promises of economic development. Across the planet, women and men are mobilizing against the company’s climate bombs.
