Drilling at Coral North is due to start in early November offshore Mozambique, according to Eni. This step advances a liquefied natural gas project valued at $7.2 billion, targeting production start-up in 2028. Eventually, the floating facility could add 3.6 million tonnes per year of LNG capacity and bring Mozambique's output to around 7 million tonnes annually.<\/p>\n
Announced during a Mozambique investment session at African Energy Week 2026, Coral North's schedule builds on experience at Coral Sul, which has produced LNG since 2022. The new project targets the northern part of the Coral field in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, offshore Cabo Delgado province. It is an offshore development based on a floating unit, a configuration allowing gas processing and liquefaction at sea.<\/p>\n
Eni holds 50% of the project, alongside CNPC, KOGAS, state-owned ENH and ADNOC subsidiary XRG. In September, the government approved a financial structure intended to mobilise up to $7.2 billion. Entering the drilling phase is therefore an operational milestone, but the schedule through first production will still depend on well completion, equipment availability, financing and partner coordination.<\/p>\n
Moving from planning to execution is particularly important for an offshore development of this scale. Delays involving subsea equipment, specialised vessels or liquefaction units can postpone production and increase capital costs. Meeting the milestones announced for November will signal the consortium's ability to maintain its schedule and suppliers' confidence in the project.<\/p>\n
If Coral North meets its targets, the country's LNG capacity could almost double. For Mozambique, this volume would strengthen gas's role in exports and could increase public revenues, foreign-currency inflows and associated services activity. Internationally, new supply from Southern Africa would join projects expected in Qatar, the United States and elsewhere.<\/p>\n
LNG demand remains sensitive to prices, long-term contracts, import policies and competition from other energy sources. A multibillion-dollar project's profitability therefore depends on its ability to sell production on predictable terms. Offtake contracts, destination flexibility and operating cost control will matter as much as resource quality.<\/p>\n
Coral North forms part of a wider wave of developments in Mozambique. ExxonMobil is preparing the Rovuma LNG project, with an announced value of $30 billion, while TotalEnergies' Mozambique LNG project in Area 1 has restarted and targets production in 2029. Simultaneous projects can create economies of scale for infrastructure, logistics and suppliers, but also pose a capacity challenge: skilled labour, ports, roads, accommodation and services must keep pace.<\/p>\n
Export growth will not automatically translate into more abundant domestic supply or greater industrialisation. Mozambique must balance revenues from external sales with gas use for electricity, industry and households. ENH reiterated that balancing commercialisation and domestic consumption remains a central issue.<\/p>\n
A local benefits strategy can take several forms: gas access for industrial activities, contracts accessible to Mozambican businesses, technician training, skills transfer and public revenues invested in infrastructure. To deliver results, these commitments must be quantified and monitored. Local suppliers also need timelines, standards and order prospects clear enough to invest in capabilities.<\/p>\n
Logistics will be decisive. Projects require coordinated delivery of heavy equipment and mobilisation of international and local teams. Port delays or shortages of specialist service providers can affect the entire schedule. Preparing logistical corridors and local businesses is therefore a condition for delivery, just as construction financing is.<\/p>\n
The start of drilling in November will provide a tangible measure of Coral North's progress. The next milestones to monitor will be well progress, budget compliance, securing orders and confirming markets. The project can also provide a reference for other basin investments, particularly if infrastructure and skills developed benefit the wider economy.<\/p>\n
Mozambique has a world-class resource and a project portfolio capable of transforming its energy profile. The challenge nevertheless extends beyond export volumes. Success will also be measured by execution reliability, the ability to manage social and operational risks and the share of value created that remains in the country. Coral North is approaching this test: the announced drilling marks the start of a phase in which the industrial schedule must now meet economic and national expectations.<\/p>\n
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The start of Coral North drilling is intended to bring Mozambique closer to a new stage in its gas expansion. The $7.2 billion project targets first production in 2028 and 3.6 million tonnes of LNG annually.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2886,260,629,299,300],"class_list":["post-9615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-evenement","tag-african-energy-week","tag-eni","tag-gaz-naturel","tag-gnl","tag-mozambique"],"yoast_head":"\n