Eni, an oil and gas corporation based in Italy, has initiated a plan to convert the Republic of Congo into a natural gas exporting country. The Congo LNG initiative aims to take advantage of the abundant gas reserves in Marin XII, which will be utilized to fulfill the country’s energy needs and enable liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to various international markets, with a focus on Europe. According to specialists, the project is projected to generate an annual LNG production capacity of 3 million tonnes (or 4.5 billion cubic meters) by 2025.
Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, said, “This outcome speaks to the importance of long-term collaboration with our African partners at a time when important strategic choices need to be made in regards to future diversification of supply routes and European energy mixes, in the direction of energy accessibility and availability and progressive decarbonisation.”
Eni has been operating in Congo for over 50 years and is the only company active in the development of its gas resources, guaranteeing 70% of national electricity production through the Centrale Electrique du Congo (CEC).
In 2022, Eni acquired the company Export LNG Ltd, which owns the Tango FLNG floating liquefaction facility, from Exmar group. The facility will be used by Eni in the Republic of Congo as part of the activities in line with Eni’s strategy to leverage gas equity resources.
The first vessel is currently being converted into a production facility with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per year, or about 4.5 billion cubic meters/year, from 2025.
The second vessel is under construction at Wison and will become operative in 2025 with a capacity of 2.4 MTPA.
In addition to expanding its presence in Congo, the Italian company is also contemplating the possibility of additional FLNG projects off Mozambique.
