With over 620 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven natural gas reserves – expected to rapidly increase after aggregating results from new exploration campaigns – African governments have been focused on large-scale project take-off, recognizing the vital role that natural gas plays in meeting demand and kickstarting sustainable socioeconomic growth.
Despite COVID-19 impacts, a number of key projects have remained resilient and are expected to come online over the 2022-2023 period.
Coral South FLNG Facility
The Coral South Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility represents the first FLNG facility to be situated in Africa’s deep waters and will be located in the Rovuma Basin offshore Mozambique. With a capacity to produce 3.4 million tons per annum (mtpa), the facility will produce gas from the Coral South offshore gas field – holding approximately 16 tcf of reserves. Led by Italy’s Eni, the capital expenditure project is a pioneering landmark for both the southern African country and the continent. With the arrival of the vessel in Mozambique in January 2022, production is expected to commence in the second half of the year.
Greater Tortue Ahmeyim FLNG Phase 1
Located on the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal, the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project is set to unlock up to 15 tcf of recoverable reserves. Co-developed by American oil company, Kosmos Energy and supermajor, bp, the project is a world-class example of transnational collaboration. Phase one of the development commenced in 2019 following final investment decision and is set to produce up to 2.5 million tons of LNG, per annum. According to the Q1 financial and operating results issued by Kosmos, the first phase is 75% complete, with the FLNG facility scheduled to produce first gas in 2023.
Marine XII Fast LNG Project
The Republic of the Congo is advancing plans to monetize the country’s 10 tcf of natural gas reserves through a large-scale LNG facility currently being developed by Italy’s Eni in partnership with Belgium’s maritime company, Exmar, and engineering firm, New Fortress Energy. The capital expenditure project is targeting production levels of 1.4 mtpa utilizing gas from the associated gas field of Nene Marine in Block Marine XII. New Fortress Energy has already inked an agreement with Eni to deploy its innovative Fast LNG technology for on-time project delivery.
Sanha Lean Gas Connection Project
The Sanha Lean Gas Connection (SLGC) project comprises a subsea gas pipeline system that will deliver lean gas to Angola’s LNG onshore facilities. Developed by Chevron’s Angolan subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, the system is located in Block 0/14, offshore Angola. Targeting the delivery of up to 480 million standard cubic feet of lean gas per day, first production is expected in 2023.
Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Pipeline
The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline is a 614 km gas pipeline running from Ajaokuta in central Nigeria to Kano City. At a cost of $2.8 billion, the pipeline represents phase one of the broader 1,300 km Trans-Nigerian Gas Pipeline mega-project and is being implemented as per Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan. Developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, construction commenced in 2020 with the pipeline expected to come online in Q1, 2023. The pipeline has capacity to transport up to 3,500 million cubic feet of gas per day.
