Coral South FLNG 5 Million Tonnes LNG: Mozambique’s First Floating LNG Success

In August 2024, Eni announced that Coral South FLNG (Coral-Sul) had achieved a production milestone of 5 million tonnes of LNG, with 70 cargoes exported since its launch in 2022. This marks not only a major success for Mozambique but also a defining moment for Africa’s energy sector.

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Coral South FLNG in Numbers

• Operator: Eni (on behalf of Rovuma Basin Area 4 partners: ExxonMobil, CNPC, Galp, Kogas, ENH)
• Location: Rovuma Basin, offshore Mozambique
• Water Depth: ~2,000m (ultra-deepwater)
• Capacity: 3.4 million tonnes LNG per year
• Dimensions: 432m long, 66m wide
• Tanks: 8 LNG tanks, total ~228,000 m³ storage
• Production Start: 2022 (first cargo to Europe in Nov 2022)
• Milestone: 5M tonnes LNG produced by Aug 2024

Engineering & Technology Marvel

Coral South FLNG (also called Coral-Sul) is Africa’s first floating LNG facility, designed to unlock Mozambique’s offshore reserves.

• Construction: Built by Samsung Heavy Industries and TechnipFMC.
• Ultra-Deepwater Operation: Works in depths up to 2,000m.
• Energy Efficiency: Uses aero-derivative gas turbines, electric drives, waste heat recovery.
• Capacity: Designed to process ~3.4 Mtpa LNG, ~480 bcm of gas over 25 years.

Achievements of Coral South FLNG

• Africa’s First FLNG: Pioneering project for the continent.
• 5M Tonnes Milestone: Reached within 2 years of start-up.
• 70 LNG Cargoes Exported: Mainly to Europe (Italy, Croatia).
• Boosting Mozambique’s Energy Profile: Positions the country as a new LNG exporter.
• Reserves Access: Unlocks Coral gas field (~10 trillion cubic feet).

Challenges & Risks

• Security Concerns: Cabo Delgado insurgency created delays for other projects in Mozambique.
• High Costs: Coral-Sul cost over $7 billion to develop.
• Market Competition: Qatar, US, and Australia LNG dominate global capacity.
• Infrastructure Dependence: Mozambique’s limited infrastructure could slow further expansion.

Strategic Importance for Mozambique & Beyond

Coral South FLNG is more than a vessel—it’s Mozambique’s entry ticket to the global LNG trade.

• Strengthens Europe’s energy security amid diversification away from Russian gas.
• Adds Africa to the global LNG export map.
• Opens path for future FLNG projects, like Coral Norte (planned 2025–2028, 3.5 Mtpa).

Future Outlook

• Coral Norte FLNG: Approved in 2025, $7.2B investment, set for late 2028 start.
• Coral projects could unlock vast Rovuma Basin reserves.
• Mozambique could emerge as a top 10 LNG exporter by 2030.

Conclusion

The achievement of 5 million tonnes LNG by Coral South FLNG is not just a production milestone—it’s proof that floating LNG can transform emerging economies. For Mozambique, it marks the dawn of a new era in energy exports, and for the world, it demonstrates the scalability of FLNG in ultra-deepwater settings.

Resources

• Eni – Coral South FLNG Project
• Technip Energies – Coral-Sul Case Study
• Offshore Energy – Coral Norte $7.2B Project