Coral Norte enters operational phase

The development of the Coral Norte project, for which the final investment decision was made in 2025, has now entered an operational phase. Eni, the Italian energy company, plans to begin a drilling campaign off the coast of Mozambique in early November, as announced by Francesco Gasparri, general manager of Eni Rovuma Basin, during the African Energy Week in Cape Town on October 15.

Drilling campaign targets LNG supply

The wells being drilled are intended to supply the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit of Coral Norte. This project marks the second phase of exploitation of the Coral gas field in the Rovuma basin, located off the province of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique. The FLNG unit will have a liquefaction capacity of 3.6 million tons of LNG per year.

Liquefaction capacity doubles

Coral Norte’s capacity will double that of the first phase, Coral Sul, which began production in October 2022 with a capacity of 3.4 million tons of LNG per year. Together, the two units will have a combined liquefaction capacity of approximately 7 million tons of LNG per year. The first production from Coral Norte is expected in 2028.

Project development milestones

Since the final investment decision in October 2025, the Coral Norte project has gone through several development stages. The ship’s hull was launched in January at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea. The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a loan of 150 million dollars to support the project.

Financing structure approved

In September, the Mozambican government approved a financing structure that could mobilize up to 7.2 billion dollars for Coral Norte. Engineering and mooring contracts were also awarded during the year. Eni estimates that this expansion will position Mozambique as the third largest African exporter of LNG.

Ownership and production progress

Eni operates Coral Norte with a 50% share. China National Petroleum Corporation holds 20% of the consortium, while Korea Gas Corporation, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), and XRG, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, each hold 10%. As of September 17, 2026, the project had exported its production in 172 shipments.

Future expansion plans

Beyond Coral Norte, Eni is preparing a new expansion phase in the Rovuma basin. In June, the operator launched a tender for a third floating liquefaction unit (FLNG), with an expected capacity of 6 million tons of LNG per year. The unit is anticipated to be commissioned around 2031.