The FLNG Nguya is a work of technological innovation. (Image source: Eni)

The Congo LNG project by Eni advances to Phase 2 with gas introduced into the new offshore infrastructure system and the Nguya FLNG floating liquefaction unit ready to support operations

Moving ahead of the schedule as a result of rigorous industrial planning, Eni is aiming export of the first LNG cargo early next year. 

Alongside the FLNG unit for liquefaction and export, the project's massive capacity of 3 mn tonnes per annum will be supported by three production platforms, and the Scarabeo 5 unit dedicated to gas treatment and compression.

Linked to the offshore Nené and Litchendjili fields in the Marine XII license, the integrated configuration will develop vast gas resources from the region, tackling the volumes in a phased manner to ensure flexibility and a steady flow to both the Tango FLNG unit, operational since late 2023, and the Nguya FLNG. 

A work of technological innovation, the 376m-long and 60m-wide Nguya FLNG is an optimised and sustainable unit that not only process gas with varried compositions but can also support additional field development.

Meanwhile, the Scarabeo 5 unit too is equipped with decarbonisation-oriented solutions. The unit was repurposed from a drilling rig into a gas treatment, separation, and compression unit. 

Carried out majorly in Congo, the project was largely led by local stakeholders. 

The plant will play a pivotal role in advancing Angola as a global natural gas player.

The New Gas Consortium's Gas Treatment Plant in Soyo, northern Angola, has been inaugurated by NGC operator, Azule Energy, a joint venture between Eni and bp

The inauguration was attended by the President of the Republic of Angola, João Gonçalves Lourenço, alongside the Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, and the Chairman of the Board of Angola’s National Oil and Gas Agency (ANPG), Paulino Jeronimo.

Initially led by Eni before the Azule Energy was formed, the NGC project is the country’s first non-associated gas development, with a processing capacity of approximately 400 mn standard cu/ft of gas per day (MMscfd) and 20,000 barrels of condensate per day. Gas is sourced from the offshore Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields, treated and then supplied to the Angola LNG plant for export and domestic consumption.

The plant will play a pivotal role in advancing Angola as a strategic player in the global natural gas market, while also supporting the country's energy diversification and responsible resource development, enabling growth in other key sectors such as fertiliser production for agriculture.

The gas treatment plant entered the commissioning phase with gas in November 2025, marking the beginning of operations for the NGC project. The project was delivered in a record 24-months, six months ahead of the sanctioned schedule.

The New Gas Consortium is operated by Azule Energy with 37.4% participation, in partnership with Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC) with 31%, Sonangol E&P with 19.8%, TotalEnergies with 11.8%, and ANPG as the National Concessionaire.

The survey and support-to-installation contract is worth around €8.5mn.

The Bouri Gas Utilisation Project development in Libya that aims valourising the associated gas from the Bouri field will involve work class ROVs performing offshore touch down monitoring 

Specialised vessels by Next Geosolutions called NG Worker and NG Surveyor will be deployed for the operations in line with around €8.5mn-worth survey and support-to-installation contract awarded by Saipem. 

A significant project including complex construction and pipelines delivery, Saipem will be handling the installation of a new Gas Recovery Module, along with a series of upgrades and enhancements to the existing infrastructure. Its contract with Next Geosolutions include optional extensions following operations in Q4 2025. 

NextGeo, which mainly deals in renewables and subsea power cables, is excited to have stepped into the oil & gas segment with this significant project from North Africa. It is an addition to another major contract from the same project that was landed last July by the company's affiliate Rana Subsea. Valued at approximately €62.6mn, the contract mandates Rana Suibsea to provide specialised subsea services and installation support operations, extending through Q2 2026.

Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of Next Geosolutions, said, “The award of these new contracts with Saipem marks a significant step forward in the growth path of our Group. The joint presence of NextGeo and Rana Subsea in the same project clearly demonstrates the full complementarity of our expertise and our ability to operate in synergy across different yet closely integrated activities, positioning ourselves as a single, trusted partner for the development of complex projects. This is a collective achievement that strengthens our Group identity and represents a natural evolution towards an increasingly integrated, competitive, and operationally excellent model.”

Partners target 350 mn standard cu/ft of gas per day at peak production.

The HI gas development offshore Nigeria will push ahead as Shell-subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, and Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the project 

The partners target 350 mn standard cu/ft (approximately 60 thousand barrels of oil equivalent) of gas per day at peak production, which will be supplied to Nigeria LNG (NLNG; Shell interest 25.6%) -- a primary producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets. Production is expected to begin before the end of this decade.

“Following recent investment decisions related to the Bonga deep-water development, today’s announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, with a focus on Deepwater and Integrated Gas,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s Upstream President. “This Upstream project will help Shell grow our leading Integrated Gas portfolio, while supporting Nigeria’s plans to become a more significant player in the global LNG market.”

The increase in feedstock to NLNG, via the Train 7 project that aims to expand the Bonny Island terminal’s production capacity, is in line with Shell’s plans to grow its global LNG volumes by an average of 4-5% per year until 2030. It will also bolster NLNG’s contribution to Nigeria's national economic development goals, including jobs in construction and operations.

The HI field was discovered in 1985 and lies in 100m of water depth around 50km from the shore. The current estimated recoverable resource volumes of the HI project are approximately 285 mmboe (million barrels of oil equivalent).