Congo FLNG Vessels Preparing for Commercial Operations

Our vessel data on Monday indicated the Excalibur FSU and the Tango FLNG barge had been stationed at their permanent location 3km off Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo where they are anchored in 40 metres of water. The two vessels are due to begin FLNG operations at the Congo LNG project before the end of the year, according to Eni. The startup of a new LNG export project will be a welcome addition as LNG exports from Africa’s Atlantic coast have declined since 2020, according to our data.

Our data on Monday showed the Excalibur FSU and the second FLNG component for the project’s first phase – the Tango FLNG – barge, had been stationed at their permanent locations 3km off Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo. Upstream reported the Tango FLNG was offloaded from Seaway7’s large-scale transportation vessel Seaway Swan in Luanda in late November. AIS data indicated the Tango FLNG barge had left Dubai’s Dry Docks World yard in early November, where it had undergone refurbishments.

Vessel conversion

The Excalibur FSU had undergone a conversion from LNG carrier to FSU at the same yard. Belgian shipowner and offshore specialist Exmar wholly owns the Excalibur FSU and closed a 10-year charter for the vessel with Eni. It has also sold the Tango FLNG barge, which has had a chequered deployment history in South America, to the Italian major. Exmar will also be responsible for all terminal operations at the Congo LNG project.

Project on track

Eni and the Congolese government celebrated the two vessels’ sail away, confirming in a press release it “aligns with the timeline of the Congo LNG project, whose first phase will startup in December 2023”.

The Congo LNG project will eventually comprise two FLNG facilities with total LNG production capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from 2025. The Congo LNG project leverages Marine XII gas resources and existing production facilities in a new, phased approach that will include zero routine gas flaring. The initial phase to go online by the end of the year will have capacity of 0.60mtpa whilst its subsequent expansion will add 2.40mtpa. Eni signed a contract for the construction and installation of the second FLNG vessel with China’s Wison Heavy Industry in December 2022.

Energy demand

The gas development aspect of Marine XII will help the Republic of the Congo meet its rising energy needs whilst seizing the opportunity to monetise surplus production through LNG shipments, allowing the country to fast track it joining the group of global LNG exporters. According to recently signed agreements, all LNG produced will be marketed by Eni.

More capacity

Fresh production capacity will be a welcome addition to Africa’s total capacity. The continent’s exports from facilities along its Atlantic coast have been on a declining trend since the end of 2020, our data shows, mainly due to fewer Nigerian shipments.

Eni has been operating in Congo for over 50 years and is the only company active in the development of the country’s gas resources. The company currently supplies gas to Congo Electric Power Station, which accounts for 70% of the country's power production capacity.