Chevron to supply 600 million scf/day to Angola LNG by year-end. (Image source: Chevron)

Chevron is set to supply 600 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the Angola LNG (ALNG) facility by the end of this year

This follows the progress of the Sanha-Lean Gas Connection (SLGC) Project, developed by Chevron’s local subsidiary, which aims to deliver lean gas to the ALNG onshore plant and is on track for first production in Q4 2024.

Billy Lacobie, managing director of Chevron’s Southern Africa strategic business unit, made the announcement during an “In Conversation with” session at the Angola Oil & Gas conference in Luanda on Wednesday.

“As we move forward, the opportunities in gas are immense and very exciting,” Lacobie said. “When you talk about energy security, [gas] is one of the key enablers.”

Lacobie explained that the anticipated increase in Chevron’s gas production will result from the installation and tie-in of the SLGC Project to the existing Sanha Condensate Complex, which includes pipelines linking Chevron-operated Blocks 0 and 14 to ALNG.

ExxonMobil drives energy security in Africa with major LNG and deepwater projects, advancing exploration in Angola, Mozambique, and Nigeria. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

ExxonMobil, a leading multinational in the oil and gas sector, continues to advance several key energy projects across Africa, reinforcing its position as a major player in the industry

The company’s recent activities underscore its commitment to enhancing energy security by providing reliable and affordable energy, while maintaining industry-leading emissions standards.

A significant milestone occurred last month when Liam Mallon, ExxonMobil’s upstream president, met with Mozambican President Nyusi to reaffirm the company’s dedication to the US$24bn Rovuma LNG project. During the meeting, Mallon confirmed that front-end engineering design (FEED) for the project is progressing, with a clear timeline aiming for a final investment decision by 2026.

In Southern Africa, ExxonMobil has also cemented its leadership in exploration in Angola’s offshore Namibe Basin, where a wildcat well has been drilled. The industry is eagerly awaiting results, as positive findings could have far-reaching implications for the region’s energy landscape. The Namibe Basin stretches from Angolan waters into northern Namibia, and commercially viable outcomes could influence the area’s energy development for decades.

In Nigeria, ExxonMobil is shifting its focus toward deepwater investments, as it concludes the sale of its shallow-water joint venture assets. Nigeria's offshore oil reserves, currently accounting for 32% of its production, are an area where ExxonMobil’s deepwater engineering expertise will be pivotal in driving the next phase of development. According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the nation’s reserves were recently estimated at 37.5 billion barrels, positioning ExxonMobil to play a leading role in Africa’s largest oil reserve base.

Looking ahead, ExxonMobil plans to further its involvement in Africa’s upstream energy sector at the upcoming Africa Oil Week (AOW): Investing in African Energy event, where the company will serve as a platinum sponsor. “ExxonMobil is pleased to be a platinum sponsor for AOW as they commemorate 30 years of convening the energy industry for fruitful engagements and sharing of best practices,” said Richard Barke, ExxonMobil vice-president of South Atlantic Exploration.

The AOW partnership underscores ExxonMobil’s significant role in Africa’s energy landscape. By gathering key stakeholders—governments, regulators, operators, power producers, investors, and service providers—the event fosters dialogue around policy development, investment opportunities, and shaping the continent’s energy future.

Through such strategic partnerships, alongside its deepwater expertise and frontier region exploration, ExxonMobil continues to assert itself as a leading force in the global energy sector.

Rovuma LNG plant aims production capacity of 18 mtpa. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Technip Energies and JGC Corporation have been awarded the front-end engineering design (FEED) contract by ExxonMobil – on behalf of Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), a joint venture of ExxonMobil, Eni, and CNPC – for the Rovuma LNG project at Palma in the Afungi peninsula, Northeast of Mozambique 

The Rovuma LNG project will consist of an LNG plant with a total production capacity of 18 Mtpa, comprising 12 fully modularized LNG trains of 1.5 Mtpa each. The plant design will feature electric-driven LNG trains instead of gas turbines, reducing greenhouse gases emissions compared to conventional LNG projects. It will also include prefabricated and standardized modules to be assembled at the project site in Mozambique, offering cost competitiveness and certainty in delivery schedule.

Mario Tommaselli, SVP Gas and Low Carbon Energies of Technip Energies, said, “We are honored to have been selected by ExxonMobil and its partners to design the Rovuma LNG project. By leveraging our expertise in modularization and electrified LNG, we are committed to support ExxonMobil and its partners towards final investment decision, as well as strengthening our presence in Mozambique to contribute to long-term economic growth and its ambition to become one of Africa’s leading LNG exporters.” Farhan Mujib, Representative Director, President of JGC, commented: “We are pleased to have been awarded by ExxonMobil and its partners, large-scale and environmentally efficient LNG Project in Mozambique. With the global focus on decarbonization and energy security, the JGC Group is accelerating the promotion of energy transition, and this project is firmly in line with the direction of our strategy. We are convinced this project of national significance will contribute to enhance economic and industrial growth in Mozambique and East Africa."

NNPC is leveraging Gastech to advance decarbonisation and LNG promotion. (NNPC Ltd)

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd is leveraging the Gas Technology Conference and Exhibition (Gastech) in Houston to initiate discussions with investors for the revival of the Brass and Olokola LNG projects

Once operational, these multi-billion dollar projects will significantly benefit the economy of the country through job creation, power generation, revenue generation and economic diversification. This development was announced by the corporation's chief financial officer, Umar Ajiya, on the sidelines of Gastech.

“In the past, gas prices went down, the economics of the projects meant a high capital expenditure (CAPEX) and this was a dis-incentive for investors and partners. Also, there was slow decision-making by the political class," said Ajiya. Defining the NNPC Ltd as commercially driven, he expressed the corporation's urgency to capitalise on Nigeria's abundant through gas resources smart decisions to bring partners to the table. The corporation has seen impressive profits in the 2023 financial year. 

Investor incentives

Noting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's role in driving new projects through the Presidential Executive Orders on oil & gas reforms, he said, "We are also happy to have the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) [that] has provided fiscal incentives for investors and is creating the enabling environment that has rekindled hope in the energy sector.”

According to Ajiya, the NNPC Ltd is utilising the Gastech exposure to advance decarbonisation of the Nigerian oil & gas operations through new technologies, as well as globally promoting its LNG resources. 

The Ubeta Field, which is being developed by TotalEnergies, remains one of the latest high-profile gas projects in the country.