Eni has commenced phase two of its Congo floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project, with first LNG exports anticipated early next year. This follows the arrival of the Nguya FLNG vessel at its offshore location, approximately 50 kilometers from Pointe-Noire, and the introduction of gas into the new system.

Project Infrastructure and Capacity

The phase two development significantly expands the Marine XII offshore project. The infrastructure includes three production platforms, the Scarabeo 5 unit for gas treatment and compression, and the Nguya FLNG vessel for liquefaction and export. The Nguya FLNG unit has a processing capacity of 2.4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).

Technical Features and Integration

The Nguya FLNG vessel is equipped with four 45,000-cubic-metre LNG tanks and utilizes advanced liquefaction technology aimed at reducing carbon intensity. It incorporates zero-flaring solutions and is designed to handle gas with varying compositions, which is important for future field developments. The vessel will develop gas from the Nene and Litchendjili fields and allows for flexible volume management between itself and the Tango FLNG unit, which has been operational since late 2023 and has a capacity of 0.6 Mtpa.

Overall Output and Timeline

Combined, the Nguya and Tango FLNG units provide a total liquefaction capacity of 3 Mtpa, equivalent to 4.5 billion cubic metres per year. Eni noted that phase two achieved start-up just 35 months after construction began on the Nguya FLNG vessel.