Communication - Presse
Area 4 Starts Technical Preparation for LNG Project, FID to Be Achieved in One and a Half Years
rea 4, operated by Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), has begun the technical planning phase for the Rovuma LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a decisive step towards the realisation of this strategic development in the Rovuma basin.
This phase, also known as Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), involves the award of two contracts for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), according to a statement issued by MRV.
According to the document, ‘the FEED phase is expected to last around 16 months and is the last stage before the Final Investment Decision (FID)’, which emphasises its importance in ensuring that the project moves forward to execution. The purpose of awarding FEED contracts is to define the technical parameters, final design and costs of the project, ensuring efficient and effective execution.
Rovuma LNG plans to produce up to 18 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG, using an electric modular design, made up of 12 modules of 1.5 MTPA each. As described in the statement, ‘Rovuma LNG’s modular and electric design, with prefabricated modules to be assembled in Afungi, is expected to increase the competitiveness and flexibility of the project and reduce on-site presence and execution risks’.
This innovative approach is also intended to ‘enable a greater reduction in greenhouse gas emissions’, contributing to a more sustainable operation.
Frank Kretschmer, president of ExxonMobil Mozambican, one of the main partners in the MRV joint venture, emphasised the importance of this breakthrough for the success of the project.
‘The award and execution of the FEED contracts is a significant step forward in the development of the world-class Rovuma LNG project,’ he said, adding that ExxonMobil will ’continue to work with the government to maximise the benefits this project will bring to the people of Mozambique for many years to come.’
MRV, a joint venture formed by ExxonMobil, Eni and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is leading the development of Rovuma LNG in Area 4, an offshore natural gas exploration and production concession.
‘This partnership holds 70 per cent of the concession, while other companies, such as Galp, KOGAS and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), hold the remaining 30 per cent,’ reads the note.
In the statement, MRV also emphasises that the collaboration with the EPC consortia aims to ensure ‘a solid and efficient FEED process, preparing the conditions for a successful implementation of the project’.
With the conclusion of this technical planning phase, Area 4 will be ready to move on to the final investment decision, ‘positioning Mozambique as a potential leader in LNG production in the region’.
