(WO) – Eni and its Area 4 partners have begun the drilling and completion campaign for the Coral North FLNG project offshore Mozambique, which is targeting startup in 2028. The partners are China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), ENH, KOGAS and XRG.
The campaign is expected to last about 10 months. ENH-Saipem Drilling Co. SA will carry it out using the Saipem 12000 drillship. Coral North will develop the northern part of the Coral reservoir in Area 4 of the Rovuma basin.
The partners said the drilling contract marks a first for local content in Mozambique’s hydrocarbons sector. ENH-Saipem, a joint venture between Mozambique’s national oil company and Saipem, is the first company with Mozambican participation to take a direct operational role in offshore drilling.
Coral North will build on the Coral South FLNG project, which was the first to produce gas from the Rovuma Basin and has delivered more than 175 LNG cargoes. Once Coral North is online, Mozambique’s LNG output will reach 7 MTPA. The partners took FID on the project in October 2025 and have since awarded the subsea contract and the FLNG contract.
Eni has operated in Mozambique since 2006. Between 2011 and 2014, it discovered the Coral, Mamba complex and Agulha reservoirs in the Rovuma basin, which together hold about 2,400 Bcm (85 Tcf) of gas in place.
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