Mozambique: Eni highlights historical success of Coral South and promising prospects for Coral North

The Director of Eni Rovuma Basin, Marica Calabrese, stated in Maputo that the Coral South FLNG project has consolidated itself as a milestone in the global liquefied natural gas industry by placing Mozambique among the leading global producers of LNG, highlighting the operational results achieved since the start of production in 2022 and the promising prospects of Coral North FLNG. During her intervention at the 12th Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition (MMEC), which has been taking place since Wednesday in the city of Maputo, the head of the Italian oil company emphasized that Coral South was the first project to put gas from the Rovuma Basin into production, at a time when many doubted the initiative’s viability. “The Area 4 partners, led by Eni, were convinced that this project was fundamental for the Country,” declared Calabrese.

According to the source, the production started in 2022 currently shows a production stability that does not exist elsewhere in the world. The leader highlighted that the Coral South FLNG represents an unprecedented technological feat, being the only floating platform in the world that produces gas in ultra-deep waters, emphasizing that the operation is carried out with high international standards of health, safety, and technical integrity. According to data presented during the conference, the Coral South project has already delivered nearly 300 million dollars in revenue to the Mozambican State and has carried out more than 150 shipments of liquefied natural gas for export—results pointed out by Eni as proof of the initiative’s operational and financial success.

The official reiterated that the Italian oil company, which operates in the Rovuma Basin through Area 4, considers Coral South a source of pride not only for the consortium partners but also for Mozambique. “Eni and all Area 4 partners are proud of this. And I think all Mozambicans also have to be proud of this achievement we have here,” she stated.

[paywall]

Regarding the future of the sector, Marica Calabrese revealed that the next chapter in the development of liquefied natural gas in Mozambique will be Coral North FLNG, whose development plan has already been approved and whose final investment decision has already been taken. “Coral North is already under construction. The start of production will be in 2028,” she said.

The director explained that the new project was born from the experience accumulated with Coral South and will be a technologically improved version of the first unit; furthermore, it is expected to generate greater gains for the Mozambican Government, increase local content, and raise benefits for the Country. “What we truly did was an improved copy. We are going to apply all the lessons learned that we have,” she said. In her intervention, Marica Calabrese also dedicated attention to Eni’s local content strategy, arguing that the involvement of Mozambican companies should not be seen merely as a legal obligation, but as a natural part of industrial development.

[/paywall]