Mozambique Launches $7.2 Billion Coral Norte LNG Megaproject
Construction begins next month as President Chapo announces massive natural gas development in Rovuma Basin
Mozambique will officially launch its ambitious $7.2 billion Coral Norte natural gas project next month, President Daniel Chapo announced during a high-level energy meeting in New York. The massive undertaking, led by Italian energy giant Eni, represents the country’s second floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility and underscores Mozambique’s determination to cement its position as a major global LNG exporter.
Construction is scheduled to commence in October 2025 in the Rovuma Basin’s Area 4, with the facility designed to produce 3.55 million metric tonnes of LNG annually over the next three decades. The development builds on the success of Coral Sul, Mozambique’s first FLNG platform that began exports in 2022, and will extract gas from the same reservoir estimated to contain 450-500 billion cubic metres of natural gas reserves.
The state-of-the-art facility will be supplied by six subsea wells and is expected to start production in the second quarter of 2028. This timeline positions Mozambique to significantly boost its LNG export capacity just as global demand for cleaner energy sources continues to surge.
While offshore LNG projects like Coral Norte are advancing rapidly, the country’s onshore ambitions face ongoing challenges. TotalEnergies’ $20 billion Golfinho and Atum project in Area 1 remains suspended under force majeure due to persistent militant activity in the Afungi Peninsula, highlighting the security hurdles that continue to plague certain regions.
The launch of Coral Norte demonstrates Mozambique’s ability to navigate complex geopolitical and security challenges while maintaining momentum in its energy sector development. For international energy markets, the project represents a crucial addition to global LNG supply chains at a time when energy security remains a top priority for importing nations.
Source: angolanminingoilandgas.com
