Mozambique has officially started exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the country’s north, according to energy major Eni SPA, operator of the Area that has China National Petroleum Corp. as a partner.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi made the announcement Sunday. It is the first gas shipment under a long-term purchase and sale contract with British giant BP.
“It is with great honor that I announce the start of the first export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), produced in the Rovuma, in Mozambique, by the Coral Sul FLNG Project. The British Sponsor ship departs Mozambican waters for the international market”, Nyusi said.
“The completion of this international venture is a sign of the recognition by the market that Mozambique offers a stable, transparent, and predictable environment for the realization of multi-billion investments, where high technology stands out to monetize resources in a phase of the energy transition, therefore it must bring pride to all Mozambicans,” Nyusi added.
Mozambique has set high hopes for vast natural gas deposits — the largest ever found in Sub-Sahara Africa — discovered in the northern Cabo Delgado province in 2010.
Once tapped, Mozambique could become one of the world’s ten biggest exporters.
Coral South produced its first LNG volumes in early October, following the FLNG’s on-schedule start-up.
The Coral South FLNG is expected to produce 450 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Coral reservoir in Mozambique’s Rovuma Basin — and to liquefy 3.4 million metric tons of that gas for transport annually.
“The Coral South project will bring significant long-term economic value to the people of Mozambique,” said Peter Clarke, head of ExxonMobil’s LNG business.
“Today’s first-cargo milestone is a testament to our integrated consortium team’s hard work, continued investment, and successful execution.
“Mozambique is joining the ranks of global LNG producers and contributing to global LNG supplies when the world needs it most.”
Eni operates Coral South, the Upstream Delegated Operator of the Area 4 consortium, comprising Eni, ExxonMobil, CNPC, Galp, Kogas, and ENH.
Area 4 is operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A. (MRV), an incorporated joint venture owned by ExxonMobil, Eni, and CNPC, which holds a 70% interest in the Area 4 Exploration and Production Concession Contract. Galp, KOGAS, and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos E.P. have a 10% interest.
With information from CL Brief