Italian energy giant Eni has confirmed that the Coral Norte liquefied natural gas (LNG) production project in the Rovuma basin is now a reality after it was approved by the government.
Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday after meeting with President Daniel Chapo in the capital city of Maputo.
“Coral Norte is the future, and the President brought very interesting and important news because we obtained authorisation for the development plan, with all the terms agreed. This means that Coral Norte is now a reality,” said Descalzi.
Coral Norte is the second floating LNG (FLNG) project to be developed by Eni in the Rovuma basin, located off the northern coast of Mozambique.
It follows Coral Sul, the country’s only operational FLNG plant, which began production in mid-2022.
With this expansion, Eni aims to significantly increase the scale of offshore gas extraction in the region.
Project scale, output, and infrastructure
Valued at $7.2 billion, the Coral Norte project’s development plan was approved in April 2025, a year after it was first sanctioned.
It will include six production wells and is expected to produce around 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG.
Mozambique’s government has stated that 25% of the gas output will be directed toward the domestic market.
Furthermore, 100% of the condensate will be utilized for power generation—an arrangement aligned with national legislation.
Government expectations
According to Cabinet spokesman Inocêncio Impissa, the Coral Norte development is expected to begin production in the second quarter of 2028.
He highlighted the project’s importance for Mozambique’s economy:
“The production [at Coral Norte is] scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2028,” he said in April 2024.
The government anticipates earning $23 billion over 30 years from the project.
Additionally, it is projected to create up to 1,400 jobs for local Mozambicans.
A look at the Rovuma basin reserve
The Rovuma basin, situated offshore Cabo Delgado province, holds some of the largest natural gas reserves in the world.
It has become a focal point for Mozambique’s energy development strategy.
Besides Eni’s initiatives, other major players like ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies also have significant interests in the area.
However, TotalEnergies’ project remains suspended due to security challenges, while ExxonMobil is still awaiting a final investment decision.
Despite delays, Exxon has expressed optimism about moving forward.
Mozambique’s LNG sector on the rise
Eni’s Coral Norte project is one of three mega-gas developments approved in Mozambique in 2024, underscoring the country’s increasing appeal to global energy investors.
Mozambique’s LNG exports have already shown positive momentum.
In 2024, the country reported $1.967 billion in LNG exports, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
With Coral Norte moving ahead and other projects joining sooner or later, Mozambique is on the path for a significant surge in natural gas revenues and global LNG influence.
