Mozambique Joins Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Producers.
Several countries, such as Mozambique, have joined in producing and shipping liquefied natural gas without difficulties. It has been made possible because of the technology developed over time.
Mozambique is one of the major producers and exporters of liquefied natural gas or LNG.
Mozambican Natural Gas Company found natural gas reserves off the Mozambique coast in 2010. It officially began to export liquefied natural gas from its restive north this year, according to the Maputo-based website “NGEN Summit.”
When the British started exploring the gas fields, they discovered a vast quantity of natural gas off the coast of northern Mozambique just in time for a final investment decision worth $20 billion.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a fuel derived from natural gas, classified as a liquid. It is liquefied when it enters the LNG plant and turns into a cold, dense vapor. LNG uses less energy than other fuels, saving time and resources.
As a result, the demand for Liquefied natural gas (LNG) increases every day as it becomes the most sought-after in all parts of the world.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a natural gas cooled to -260°C (-350°F) and compressed into liquid form.
Exporters transport in specially insulated LNG tankers, which can hold up to 5 million tonnes of liquid natural gas.
The demand for LNG has increased significantly in the past decade. One of the main benefits of using LNG is that it makes a great source of energy to export in Mozambique, specifically with the announcement from Filipe Nyusi that he’ll be exporting LNG in November 2022.
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, on Sunday, 13th of November 2022 announced the commencement of liquefied natural gas export in the country as the oil tanker British Sponsor conveys the first cargo of LNG through Mozambican territorial waters.
Mozambique boasts the global second-largest and Africa’s first-largest producer of liquefied natural gas as Coral South Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) pioneers the Area 4 mega gas project in the country.
A Look at Mozambique’s Liquefied Natural Gas Project & its Operating Technology
The project started as a joint venture with ExxonMobil in the US, Italian ENI from Italy, the Chinese company CNPC, Korea’s KOGAS, and Portugal’s Galp. They then partnered with Mozambique’s ENH to create a profitable business venture.
Coral South FLNG has achieved this stellar technological feat by integrating the world’s major cutting-edge deep-sea LNG technology for its gas floating production platform.
It produces a capacity of 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per annum, stationed in South Area 4 of the Rovuma Basin, 80 km offshore Mozambique.
The wells for the liquefied gas production will serve 25 years according to their designation, with a 2000-meter water depth.
In his recent dialogue with Xinhua News Agency, Nazario Bangalane (Chairman of Mozambique’s National Institute of Petroleum) narrated how the gas project contributes significantly to Mozambique’s economic development.
He said the country emerged as an LNG producer and exporter in the global market, emphasizing its first cargo.
Bangalane furthered his statement by saying that the success of Coral South FLNG, the pioneer of Mozambique’s mega gas project, results from the effort of the country’s government and its partner CNPC Mozambique.
The general manager of CNPC, Zheng Jianhua, added that the company wishes to improve the transition to green low-carbon energy via the FLNG project of Coral South by applying its successful practices.
Construction of the Gas Production Platform & its Challenges
According to Zheng, the construction FLNG project platform, which lasted up to 60 months, experienced some challenges, including the security situation at the site, technical difficulties, and the global pandemic, which it defeated and stood out as the first across the globe to begin its production as scheduled.
The country’s President, Nyusi, emphasized that the achievement indicates that the country offers an unfailing atmosphere for multi-billion investments, pleading with Mozambicans to avoid using gas exploration as the key to the country’s development.
He added that the country ought to uphold and intensively boost production and efficiency in their traditional activities, which include tourism, agriculture, energy generation projects, fishing, etc.
Mozambique looks forward to marketing the natural gas produced via the Coral South FLNG project for 20 years solely through the British Petroleum company.
Uses of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Liquefied natural gas has various uses, which increased its global trade from 100 million tonnes in 2000 to virtually 300 million tonnes in 2017.
The most important uses of liquefied natural gas are;
· Industrial use – producing chemicals, hydrogen, fertilizers, and so much more in various industries.
· Electricity generation
· Transportation as an alternative source of fuel for automotive vehicles, and
· Heating
Most common uses of LPN include;
· Air conditioning
· Water heating
· Cooking, and
· Lighting a fire
Final Words
LNG pioneer companies in Africa and globally anticipate that the trading of liquefied natural gas will grow in value as global energy consumption and demand increase.
For this reason, its production continues to amplify across many countries, including Mozambique, as the world turns towards cleaner energy sources.
