South Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries has launched the hull of the $2.5bn floating LNG production unit that will serve the Eni-led Coral FLNG project for Mozambique.
The 3.4 million tonnes per annum Coral-Sul FLNG unit, which is 439 metres in length, 38.5 metres high with a 65-metre beam, will be able to produce LNG and other liquids.
The vessel will be used to develop the Mamba gas discovery in the Rovuma Basin, which lies about 48 km off Mozambique.
SHI is working with France’s Technip and Japan’s JGC on the floater, which is due for delivery next year.
At a celebration to mark the float out, Coral FLNG said the project is now over 60% complete.
LNG production is scheduled for start-up in 2022.
Eni's executive vice president for the West Africa Region Adriano Mongini said described the hull launch as "an outstanding milestone".
Representing the government of Mozambique, Mozambican Institute of Petroleum chairman Carlos Zacarias said: “We believe that at this rate we will in fact have, by 2022, the production, liquefaction and export of the first LNG cargo gas from the Coral FLNG Project."
Italy's Eni pressed the finally sanction button on what it described as the world’s first ultra-deepwater FLNG project in 2017.
Currently, the unit is set to be the sixth FLNG unit to go into operation. There are four LNG floaters producing liquids worldwide, with Malaysia's Petronas set to take delivery of a newbuilding this year.
BP has signed up to buy the entire output from Coral.
Eni is working in partnership to develop the project with PetroChina, Galp Energia, Kogas and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos.
