The Mozambique LNG project, valued at more than 1.2 billion meticais (20 billion dollars) and led by French petrochemical company TotalEnergies, is facing a significant delay in the delivery of 17 essential gas ships. The South Korean shipyards HD Hyundai Group and Samsung Heavy Industries have rescheduled the delivery of these ships for 2028 and 2029, according to the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM).
According to the report, this postponement is due to the invocation of ‘force majeure’, a clause that resulted in the paralysing of work on the Afungi logistics base, located in the Palma district of Cabo Delgado province. According to TradeWinds, a platform specialising in information on the LNG industry, the new delivery schedule reflects the impact of delays in construction work.
The gas carriers, which play a crucial role in transporting liquefied natural gas from the liquefaction units to the regasification and distribution points on land, are fundamental to the success of the project. ‘The delay suggests that production in Afungi could be postponed until 2028 or 2029, depending on the resumption of activities,’ the source said.
While the Mozambique LNG project faces challenges with this delay, Coral Sul FLNG Mozambique, operated by Italy’s ENI, is reaching important milestones. Technology supplier Air Products announced that Coral Sul FLNG has surpassed production of 3.4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, demonstrating the effectiveness of its liquefaction technology.
‘The delay suggests that production in Afungi could be postponed until 2028 or 2029, depending on the resumption of activities’
Air Products, a US multinational specialising in industrial gases and chemicals, pointed out that its AP-DMR LNG processing technology and equipment successfully passed the performance test, offering a solution with lower carbon intensity compared to other floating LNG processes.
In parallel, the Chinese multinational CNOOC Ltd confirmed several agreements to explore offshore blocks in Africa, including Mozambique. This expansion marks a new phase in CNOOC’s presence on the continent, resulting from concessions granted by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy and the state-owned oil company ENH.
