The Coral Sul-FLNG project is establishing itself as one of the greatest energy achievements in Mozambique’s economic history. During his speech at the 11th Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition (MMEC 2025), the platform’s general manager, Alfonso Pagano, revealed that the project is expected to inject more than US$15 billion (960 billion meticals) into the national economy over its lifetime.
‘Coral Sul is undoubtedly a collective success, the result of collaboration between multiple international and national stakeholders,’ Pagano told an audience of ministers, delegates and representatives of the African energy sector.
Pagano pointed out that in 2023 alone, the project contributed about half of Mozambique’s economic growth, at a time when Moody’s estimated GDP growth of around 6.5%.
‘This is an impact that cannot be ignored. Coral Sul has not only ensured stability in production, but has also generated concrete economic results for the country,’ he stressed.
With an investment of over US$7 billion (448 billion meticals), the project has achieved all its strategic milestones within the initial timeframe and budget, even in the face of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For Pagano, this is a rare achievement in the mega energy project industry:
‘Since the final investment decision was signed in 2017, we have stayed on course. Even in the face of unforeseen events, there have been no delays or cost overruns,’ he assured.
At the operational level, the platform has already produced 7.3 million tonnes of liquefied gas, maintaining a rate of regularity that impresses even the most experienced in the sector. In terms of safety, Coral Sul has achieved a remarkable record of zero reportable incidents in over a year of continuous operation.
‘We are not just talking about the absence of serious injuries, but the total absence of incidents, something practically unheard of in this industry,’ he stressed.
In addition to technology, the project stands out for its strong commitment to local content. Currently, more than 800 Mozambicans are directly involved in Coral Sul’s operations, including 300 workers integrated into the company’s structure and another 500 through subcontracting.
‘At the beginning, there was not enough technical expertise in the country. We had to invest in training. Today, we have trained 200 Mozambicans, 120 of whom are young people fresh out of university,‘ revealed Pagano.
’We made a deliberate effort to empower Mozambican companies and explain the processes for accessing tenders. The aim is to create sustainable value.”
The project is also preparing the first Mozambican LNG operators, with some of the trainees receiving practical training on board and others sent to Italy for advanced technical training.
On the business side, more than 100 operational contracts have been awarded to local companies, with 39% of the contract value going to firms controlled by Mozambicans. Pagano made it clear that it is not just about numbers:
‘We made a deliberate effort to train Mozambican companies and explain the processes for accessing tenders. The goal is to create sustainable value.’
In one of the most applauded moments of his speech, the platform director highlighted the importance of international collaboration and the renunciation of individual interests in favour of a collective vision:
‘No country could have achieved a project of this magnitude on its own. Coral Sul is the result of a real commitment, in which everyone had to give ground to build something bigger.’
Finally, Pagano recalled that the project also includes social and community initiatives, such as the provision of medical equipment to Pemba Hospital and education programmes that have already benefited more than 4,000 people.
‘These parallel projects are just as important as gas production. They ensure that the development generated by Coral Sul reaches local communities,’ he concluded.
Text: Felisberto Ruco
