Maputo (Mozambique), 1 November 2026 - Eni and its Area 4 partners, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), ENH, KOGAS and XRG, announce the startup of the drilling and completion campaign for the Coral North Project offshore Mozambique. The activity marks another significant milestone towards the project’s startup in 2028, further unlocking the country's vast offshore natural gas resources.
The drilling campaign is expected to last approximately 10 months and will be carried out by ENH–Saipem Drilling Company SA using the SAIPEM 12000 drilling vessel to support the development of the Coral North Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Project, located in the northern part of the Coral reservoir, in Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin.
The participation of ENH-Saipem Joint Venture is a landmark achievement in advancing local content in Mozambique’s hydrocarbons sector. For the first time, a company with Mozambican participation will assume a direct operational role in offshore drilling, one of the most technically demanding and capital-intensive segments of the natural gas value chain, consolidating its position on the national and international market and adding further value to the country’s technical sector at a pivotal moment, as new projects set the course for Mozambique’s energy future.
Building on the success of the Coral South FLNG Project, Coral North will further enhance Mozambique's position as a reliable supplier of liquefied natural gas to international markets, bringing the country’s LNG output to 7 MTPA. The project is expected to contribute to global energy security while supporting the country's long-term economic growth and development objectives.
Eni has been present in Mozambique since 2006. Between 2011 and 2014, the company discovered vast natural gas resources in the Rovuma Basin, in the Coral, Mamba Complex and Agulha reservoirs, with around 2,400 billion cubic meters of gas in place. Coral South, the first project to produce gas from the Rovuma Basin, has successfully delivered to the market more than 175 LNG cargoes. Eni also contributes to improving the country’s economic diversification, access to education, health and water through implementation of a comprehensive sustainability plan.
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