The National Hydrocarbons Company (ENH), through ENH-Saipem Drilling Company, S.A., is taking part in the well drilling and completion campaign for the Coral Norte FLNG project in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, in Cabo Delgado.
The campaign, which is expected to last 10 months, is an important stage in the development of the project, which is scheduled to begin production in 2028. The work will be carried out by an ENH Group company, using the SAIPEM 12000 drillship, to support the development of the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) production unit located in the northern part of the Coral reservoir.
ENH’s participation in this campaign represents a significant milestone for the development of local content in Mozambique’s hydrocarbons sector. For the first time, a Mozambican company with significant Mozambican ownership is taking on a direct operational role in offshore drilling, one of the most technically complex and capital-intensive activities in the natural gas value chain.
This involvement also provides an opportunity to consolidate national technical skills and strengthen the participation of Mozambican-owned companies in specialised operations, helping to develop the country’s technical capacity and strengthen its position in the national, regional and international markets.
ENH Chairman of the Board of Directors Rudêncio Morais considers this development to be in line with the company’s strategic ambition to develop the skills that will enable it to progressively assume responsibilities as an operator in the upstream segment.
“For the first time in the company’s history, we will be at the forefront of upstream offshore operations, which will provide an opportunity to consolidate our technical capacity, with the active involvement of Mozambican technicians in drilling activities,” he said.
Participation in this campaign strengthens ENH’s position in the national hydrocarbons industry and highlights the importance of the involvement of Mozambican-owned companies in highly specialised activities, contributing to the enhancement of local content in the natural gas value chain.
Developed on the basis of experience gained from the Coral Sul FLNG project, Coral Norte represents a further stage in the development of the Rovuma Basin’s natural gas resources.
Once operational, the combined production capacity of the Coral Sul and Coral Norte projects is expected to reach around seven million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year, strengthening Mozambique’s position as a natural gas supplier to national, regional and global markets.
The project is also expected to contribute to national economic growth by creating opportunities for Mozambican companies, developing technical skills and stimulating the energy sector’s value chain.
The Area 4 concession contract was signed in 2006. Between 2011 and 2014, significant natural gas resources were discovered in the Coral and Agulha reservoirs and the Mamba Complex, estimated at around 2,400 billion cubic metres of gas in place.
Coral Sul FLNG was the first project to produce natural gas in the Rovuma Basin and has already delivered more than 175 LNG cargoes to the international market.
In Area 4, ENH represents the Mozambican state, with a 10% stake. The consortium also includes KOGAS and XRG, each with 10%, and Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A. (MRV), the Area 4 operator, with 70%. MRV is made up of Eni, ExxonMobil and CNPC.
