A consortium comprising Samsung Heavy Industries, JGC, and Technip Energies has launched a tender for module work on Mozambique’s second floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit, Coral Norte.
The topside tender was disclosed on Monday by Upstream Online, which reported that the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for the Eni-operated Coral Norte project.
The goal is to seek firms that will handle the design, fabrication, integration, and installation of large, pre-assembled modules.
These units will house critical systems for LNG production and are typically constructed offsite before being transported to the FLNG vessel for final assembly.
The Coral Norte development follows the successful deployment of Coral Sul, which began operations in mid-2022.
Italian energy company Eni has since accelerated efforts to bring the second FLNG unit online. It aims to deliver approximately 3.5 million tonnes of LNG annually over a 30-year period.
“The Coral Norte project builds on the achievements of Coral Sul and confirms our long term commitment to the sustainable development of Mozambique’s natural gas resources,” an Eni worker said in April.
JGC and Technip are overseeing the topside EPC scope, while Samsung is responsible for hull fabrication.
A closer look at Mozambique’s Coral Norte
Sanctioned in 2024, the $7.2 billion Coral Norte project received development plan approval in April this year.
It will feature six production wells and is scheduled for commissioning in the second quarter of 2028.
“Coral Norte is the future, and the President brought very interesting and important news because we obtained authorisation for the development plan, with all the terms agreed,” said Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi following a meeting with President Daniel Chapo in June.
“This means that Coral Norte is now a reality.”
Mozambique’s Rovuma basin, which holds an estimated 100 trillion cubic feet of gas, remains a focal point for energy development.
However, several projects in the region, including ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG and TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG, have been delayed due to recent armed conflict in the north.
A period of relative calm has allowed Eni to cautiously advance Coral Norte.
Beyond Mozambique, Eni is also progressing with the second phase of its FLNG operations in Congo.
The Nguya vessel, part of that initiative, held its sail-away ceremony in August and is expected to begin operations by the end of 2025.