Mozambique marked a new milestone in the development of its national natural gas industry on Friday with the launch, in South Korea, of the hull of the Coral North FLNG floating unit. The project strengthens the country’s position as a strategic player in the global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market.
The event represents a decisive stage in the implementation of the second ultra-deepwater LNG project in the Rovuma Basin and follows the approval, in April 2025, of the Coral North FLNG Development Plan. This confirms that the project is progressing in line with its established timetable.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Estevão Pale, said the launch of the hull symbolises the completion of the construction of the main infrastructure and the start of the integration phase for the production and processing modules.
“The launch of the hull represents a highly significant milestone in the implementation cycle of the Coral North FLNG project, symbolising the completion of the construction of the floating unit’s main infrastructure and the beginning of the integration phase of the gas production and processing systems,” the minister said.
According to Pale, this progress also reflects the government’s commitment to positioning Mozambique as a responsible producer and a reliable energy supplier to the international market.
For the government, the development marks a decisive step in the country’s trajectory as a responsible natural gas producer, reinforcing confidence among partners and consolidating Mozambique’s role as a dependable energy supplier worldwide.
With an estimated liquefaction capacity of 3.6 million tonnes per year, Coral North is expected to raise total production in the Rovuma Basin to around 7 million tonnes annually, significantly boosting Mozambique’s contribution to global energy security. The project will position the country as Africa’s third-largest LNG producer.
Minister Pale also highlighted the project’s expected impact on public finances and socio-economic development, underlining its potential to generate revenue and create opportunities for Mozambican youth.
“The materialisation of the Coral North FLNG will translate into tax revenues and other gains for the government (…) contributing to the stabilisation and balance of the national balance of payments and providing the state with financial means to implement education, health and public infrastructure programmes (…) as well as creating jobs for Mozambican youth,” he said.
Beyond its macroeconomic impact, the Coral North FLNG project is expected to stimulate the value chain through job creation, technical training, knowledge transfer and increased participation by the national business sector.
The start of operations of the Coral North FLNG is scheduled for 2028, at a time when international demand for secure and diversified energy sources continues to grow.
