ExxonMobil working on larger Rovuma LNG export project in Mozambique

Mozambique [East Africa]: ExxonMobil, the US energy giant, is set to expand the capacity of its planned Rovuma LNG onshore terminal in Mozambique. The company has issued an invitation to firms demonstrating interest in providing a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the project.

MRV is the operator of Area 4, a deepwater block in the Rovuma basin off Mozambique's coast. This would be used to supply the LNG export plant on the Afungi peninsula from the Mamba reservoirs. MRV is under the shared ownership and management of Eni, ExxonMobil and CNPC, with each having a 70% stake in the exploration and production concession contract.

Galp, Kogas and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos have each secured a 10% stake in Area 4.

ExxonMobil and Eni have come together for a major joint venture in the Rovuma Basin. ExxonMobil is leading the construction and operation of the liquefaction and related facilities, whereas Eni is taking the reigns for constructing and managing the upstream facilities. In 2019, a consortium made up of JGC, Fluor, and TechnipFMC (JFT) was awarded a contract to engineer, procure and construct the Rovuma LNG onshore production complex.

ExxonMobil, Eni, and their partners are resuming development of the giant Rovuma LNG project which had been delayed for years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and security concerns. The project is said to be worth more than $22 billion and was made possible by an award which enabled the start of activities. However, the partners have yet to make a final investment decision.

Mozambique took a leap forward in the global LNG game, with Eni's 3.4 mtpa Coral Sul FLNG located offshore Mozambique shipping its first cargo of liquefied natural gas last year. Eni and its partners are now moving forward with plans for a second floating LNG producer, sourcing supplies from the Coral South reservoir within Area 4. This helps solidify Mozambique's place in the international LNG market.

TotalEnergies is working to restart its $20 billion Mozambique LNG export project, which was put on hold in April 2021 after all personnel were removed from the site due to attacks. This project was initially composed of two natural gas liquefaction units, with a collective capacity of 15.2 million tonnes annually, and accompanying onshore infrastructure. Now, the partners are looking to build an onshore plant with multiple liquefaction units each having around 1.5 mtpa nominal design capacity, totalling up to 18 mtpa for the first phase of the project.

ExxonMobil's Mozambique division has issued an invitation to interested parties to submit expressions of interest to provide front-end engineering design and potential engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning services for the midstream portion of the project's first phase.