Communication - Presse

Coral Norte LNG project on course for 2028 start-up

• MODEC will supply the internal turret mooring system for the Coral Norte FLNG project, reinforcing the project’s 2028 startup schedule.
• Coral Norte will produce 3.6 million tonnes of LNG annually, nearly double the output of the Coral Sul FLNG currently operating in the Rovuma Basin.
• Standard Bank estimates that development of the Rovuma Basin could generate $11 billion annually for Mozambique’s economy and create 151,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2035.

Contracts continue to advance the Coral Norte development in Mozambique. Japanese engineering company MODEC announced on Wednesday, June 24, that it will supply the internal turret mooring system for the floating production unit under a partnership with the Technip Energies-JGC joint venture, which is responsible for constructing the facility.

Coral Norte FLNG will liquefy natural gas directly offshore by cooling the gas into a liquid state before loading it onto LNG carriers destined for international markets. MODEC’s internal turret mooring system will allow the vessel to rotate freely in response to wind and wave conditions while remaining securely anchored to the seabed.

Italian energy company Eni is developing the project alongside Chinese, Mozambican, Emirati, and South Korean partners. The consortium approved the floating LNG vessel’s construction in October 2025, while shipbuilders launched the hull at a South Korean shipyard in January 2026.

Following these milestones, the partners expect first LNG production in 2028. Once operational, Coral Norte will produce 3.6 million tonnes of LNG per year, almost double the output of its sister vessel, Coral Sul, which has operated in the Rovuma gas basin since 2022.

“Coral Norte is an important milestone for the industry and for Mozambique, and we are honored to contribute to this historic FLNG project,” said Arun Duggal, head of MODEC’s Mooring Solutions business unit.

A project designed as a continuation of Coral Sul

MODEC previously supplied the mooring system for Coral Sul. “The work delivered by MODEC on Coral Sul established a strong operational foundation and demonstrated clear excellence in engineering and execution,” a spokesperson for the Technip Energies-JGC joint venture said.

As a result, Coral Norte incorporates lessons learned from Coral Sul’s operations and includes technical optimizations designed to improve efficiency and reliability. The internal turret mooring system remains particularly important in the Rovuma Basin, where strong currents and challenging sea conditions can affect offshore operations.

A positive signal for Mozambique after years of delays

The contract comes at a challenging time for Mozambique’s gas sector. Since 2021, insecurity in Cabo Delgado province forced several operators, including TotalEnergies, to suspend projects. TotalEnergies halted its Mozambique LNG Area 1 development before restarting activities earlier this year. By contrast, Coral Norte sits farther offshore and has avoided similar disruptions, allowing development to progress steadily.

For Mozambique, where GDP per capita reached approximately $657 in 2024 according to the World Bank, policymakers view Coral Norte as a major economic catalyst. A Standard Bank study published in 2025 estimated that development of the Rovuma Basin could generate $11 billion in annual economic benefits and create 151,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country by 2035.

Source: https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-coral-norte-lng-project-on-course-for-2028-start-up/