Ceremonial send-off marks LNG milestone
Shanghai hosted a symbolic send-off for the 376-metre Nguya floating liquefied natural gas unit, marking the practical launch of Congo LNG’s second phase. Minister of Hydrocarbons Bruno Jean Richard Itoua and Eni executive Stefano Maione underlined the milestone as a catalyst for national gas valorisation.
Once moored in 35 metres of water above the Marine XII block, Nguya will process gas into 2.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. Dual-fuel propulsion, energy-efficient refrigeration and advanced flare minimisation technology are designed to reduce emissions intensity, answering both project economics and climate expectations.
Nguya FLNG: design, capacity and record build
The hull, topsides and cryogenic modules were completed in just 33 months from contract award to commissioning, a record for vessels of comparable scale. Eni credits digital engineering and integrated Asian shipyard logistics for compressing schedules without compromising safety or quality benchmarks.
By complementing the 0.6 MTPA Tango unit already on stream, Nguya lifts Congo LNG’s nameplate capacity to 3 MTPA. The incremental volumes anchor long-term offtake contracts while preserving flexibility to switch between nearby gas fields, a feature considered attractive by traders in a volatile market.
Feeding the liquefaction vessel is a repurposed floating production and compression unit derived from the former Scarabeo 5 drilling rig. The extensive retrofit shortens lead times, halves new-build steel requirements and showcases what Eni calls its circular-economy engineering model aligned with its corporate decarbonisation roadmap.
Integrated infrastructure streamlines delivery
Subsea flowlines, umbilicals and well tie-backs associated with Phase 2 have advanced on schedule, according to project managers. Installation vessels continue to lay flexible risers that will connect multiple reservoirs to the compression unit, targeting mechanical completion ahead of Nguya’s arrival offshore Pointe Noire.
Since loading its first cargo in December 2023, Tango FLNG has dispatched twelve shipments to Mediterranean and Asian terminals, illustrating the logistical reach of Congo’s Atlantic frontage. Reliable performance metrics from Tango offered confidence to investors, enabling smoother financial closure for the larger Nguya package.
Strengthening Congo’s energy and fiscal outlook
When both floating plants operate concurrently, Congo could monetize roughly 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day that was previously flared or reinjected. That incremental export revenue may diversify public finances, broaden the tax base and strengthen foreign-exchange buffers maintained by the Treasury.
Eni, present in the Republic of Congo since 1968, already supplies 70 percent of national power generation fuel. Its integrated upstream-midstream model positions the company as a long-term partner to Brazzaville, offering both infrastructure and technical assistance across gas, power and community development initiatives.
Analysts at Fitch Solutions note that LNG royalties and profit gas could support fiscal consolidation, provided disbursements remain transparent. The Ministry of Hydrocarbons has reiterated its commitment to publish key contract data, aiming to reassure rating agencies and syndicated-loan arrangers monitoring debt sustainability.
Brazzaville officials emphasise that gas-to-power and LNG exports complement, rather than contradict, the government’s climate pledges under the Paris Agreement. They point to the project’s lower carbon intensity versus coal and the potential to finance forest conservation programmes within the Congo Basin.
Financing, markets and environmental stewardship
Construction and operations are expected to mobilise over 700 skilled Congolese workers, with training modules covering cryogenic safety, rotating equipment maintenance and digital monitoring. Local service companies see opportunities in fabrication, catering and logistics once steady-state production commences.
International banks reportedly structured the debt tranche under export credit cover, citing robust cash flows and political support. Rising Atlantic basin spot prices since 2022 have improved project netbacks, while price-floor clauses shield lenders should LNG benchmarks soften by 2026.
West African LNG supply is growing, yet outages in Nigeria and maintenance in Equatorial Guinea tighten regional availability. Congo’s incremental cargos could therefore command premiums during winter demand spikes in Europe, providing a commercial cushion during the plant’s early ramp-up period.
Projected impact on regional gas landscape
Eni states that continuous methane monitoring, waste-heat recovery and electrified compressors will cap Scope 1 emissions below 0.2 tonnes CO₂-equivalent per tonne of LNG. An independent verification protocol overseen by Bureau Veritas is planned to audit performance during the first operational year.
With hull sea trials completed and subsea works on track, Nguya is expected to reach Congolese waters before fourth-quarter 2025. Successful start-up would make the Republic of Congo the only African country operating two FLNG vessels, consolidating its emerging role in the Atlantic gas map.
