Rovuma LNG Seeks Govt Approval of Plan
The ExxonMobil-Eni led Rovuma LNG venture has submitted the first phase development plan to Mozambique's government, ExxonMobil said in a statement July 9.
The plan details the proposed design and construction of two onshore liquefaction trains which will each produce 7.6mn metric tons/year of LNG, the gas coming from the Mamba fields in Area 4.
The announcement follows encouraging statement about progress with LNG offtake agreements. Together with the more advanced Mozambique LNG project, the country's LNG exports could exceed 50mn mt/year by the middle of next decade.
ExxonMobil will lead construction and operation of natural gas liquefaction and related facilities on behalf of the joint venture, and Eni will lead construction and operation of upstream facilities. As the Rovuma LNG project progresses, every effort will be made to actively build the local workforce and supplier capabilities in Mozambique, the statement said.
“We are excited to be progressing the Rovuma LNG project, working with the government and leveraging the expertise and capabilities of all of the partners,” said Liam Mallon, president of ExxonMobil Development Company.
“The Rovuma LNG Project is moving forward swiftly,” said Stefano Maione, Eni’s executive vice-president for the Mozambique Program: “The size of the project makes it not only an important investment in the country, but also supports economic growth and opens new opportunities for Mozambicans.”
A final investment decision by the Area 4 joint venture parties is scheduled in 2019, with LNG production expected to commence in 2024. Marketing activities are progressing, with negotiations on sales and purchase agreements underway, targeting completion in parallel with the development plan approval process.
Rovuma LNG is operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture, an incorporated joint venture owned by ExxonMobil, Eni and CNPC, with 70% in the Area 4 concession; and partners Portugal's Galp, South Korea's Kogas and Mozambican state Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, each of which hold 10%.
A year ago the partnership took final investment decision on a standalone Coral South floating liquefaction (FLNG) project, now under development and expected to produce first LNG in 2022.
Galp said July 9: "Submission of the plan for the first phase of the Rovuma LNG project reflects the consortium’s commitment to continue developing Area 4 high-quality scaleable resources, with around 85 trillion ft3 of gas in place, after having already taken the FID for the Coral South FLNG project in 2017."