A new deepwater natural gas development project is about to be launched in the dark waters near Cape Delgado Province in northern Mozambique, at a depth of about 2000 meters. Together with the already operational facilities, it forms a key part of Africa's energy map.

In December 2025, marine contracting giant TechnipFMC announced that it had been awarded a submarine engineering contract worth between $250 million and $500 million by Italy's Eni Group. This marks that the Coral North floating liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique has officially entered the substantive construction phase after reaching the final investment decision. This project is not only the second ultra deepwater FLNG project developed by Eni Group in the country, but also a major energy project with a total investment of over 7.2 billion US dollars, expected to produce the first batch of liquefied natural gas LNG in 2028.

Deep water 'twin stars' formed

The Coral North project will be deployed in Block 4 of the Rovuma Basin in northern Mozambique, at a depth of approximately 2000 meters. Its core is an ultra deepwater FLNG vessel with an annual production capacity of approximately 3.55-3.6 million tons.

It will be on par with the already operational Coral South project. As the world's first ultra deepwater FLNG project, Coral South has been running smoothly since its commissioning at the end of 2022, providing a reliable model for the replication and optimization of Coral North. After these two projects complement each other, the total annual production capacity will reach about 7 million tons, forming the twin stars of Mozambique's offshore natural gas development and significantly improving resource development efficiency.

Technological Upgrade and Global Cooperation

The key to project success lies in the replication and upgrading of mature technologies. TechnipFMC will draw on its experience accumulated in the Coral South project to manufacture and install critical flexible subsea pipelines, risers, subsea manifolds, and umbilical cable systems.

This subsea system project is the lifeline that connects subsea gas reservoirs with surface FLNG facilities. The international shareholder background of the project is also noteworthy, including not only the operator Eni Group, but also subsidiaries of PetroChina, Mozambique National Oil Company, South Korean Natural Gas Company, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. This diversified consortium structure demonstrates the confidence and long-term commitment of global capital to Mozambique's natural gas resources.

Reshaping the Energy Landscape of Africa

The strategic significance of the Coral North project goes far beyond the single energy project itself. Firstly, it will strongly promote Mozambique's economic transformation, expected to generate approximately $23 billion in fiscal revenue for the country over the next 30 years, and drive employment and local industrial development.

Secondly, after the project is put into operation, Mozambique's annual LNG export capacity will significantly increase, which is expected to promote the country to become the third largest LNG exporting country in Africa. From a broader perspective, LNG projects in countries such as Mozambique, Nigeria, and Senegal are jointly enhancing Africa's influence in global natural gas trade, providing new supply options for European and Asian markets, and enriching the global LNG supply landscape. Keywords: International News and Information, International News Network

The advancement of the Coral North project not only means the laying of a new underwater pipeline, but also symbolizes the opening of a new channel connecting Mozambique's resource potential with global energy demand. When the first natural gas ship departs from this new FLNG facility in 2028, it will not only deliver clean energy, but also provide a new hope for Africa to participate in global energy governance and achieve its own industrialization.Editor/Cheng Liting