Eni's Coral Norte FLNG reached final investment decision in October 2025 and is now under construction. A competing third FLNG tender, opened June 2026, targets a record-capacity 6 MTPA vessel by 2031. For SADC industrial buyers, this dual pipeline means 18 months of competitive procurement and qualification windows for subsea tie-backs, mooring systems, and installation vessel capacity.
Oil & Gas Industry
27 August 2026 • 5 min read
Eni and its partners reached final investment decision in October 2025 to develop Coral Norte FLNG, deepwater offshore Cabo Delgado, north of Mozambique. Now, Eni has launched a tender for a third floating LNG vessel with a nominal production capacity of 6 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year. Together, these projects signal unprecedented demand for deepwater floating infrastructure across the Rovuma Basin and SADC maritime logistics.
Coral Norte moves from FID to active construction
In January 2026, Eni and its partners announced the hull launch of Coral Norte FLNG at Geoje, South Korea. With a production liquefaction capacity of 3.6 MTPA, the newly built Coral Norte FLNG coupled with its predecessor Coral South will bring Mozambique's overall LNG production to exceeding 7 MTPA, making the country the third-largest LNG producer in Africa. MODEC will supply the internal turret mooring system for the Coral Norte FLNG project, reinforcing the project's 2028 startup schedule. JGC France and Technip Energies will be primarily responsible for the engineering and procurement of the FLNG topside facilities, while Samsung Heavy Industries will undertake the engineering, procurement, and construction of the FLNG hull and the fabrication of the topside modules. This multi-year construction phase creates demand for equipment suppliers, installation contractors, and maritime support services across Africa's ports and corridors.
Third FLNG tender breaks scale records, opens qualification window
Companies must submit expressions of interest by the end of June 2026, targeting commissioning in 2031. The planned facility will have a nominal production capacity of six million metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually, making it significantly larger than Shell's Prelude FLNG in Australia, currently the world's largest operational floating LNG installation with a capacity of 3.6 million metric tonnes per year. One of the key requirements is a verified track record of delivering similar projects over the past 10 years. The anticipated scope of work comprises complete project management, engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, transportation, mooring, mechanical completion, commissioning, start-up, and performance testing of an integrated deepwater FLNG vessel (approximately 2,000 metres water depth), including the integration of company-furnished items into the FLNG.
Construction pipeline: With the addition of a third vessel capable of producing six million metric tons annually, Eni's three floating LNG facilities would give Mozambique a combined offshore liquefaction capacity of about 13 million metric tons per year.
(Source: Ecofin Agency, June 2026)
Subsea tie-backs and mooring systems drive equipment demand
Like Coral Sul, the Coral Norte project will produce from six subsea wells to be tied back to the new FLNG unit, from the same reservoir which Eni estimates holds between 450 and 500 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The FLNG facility will include a mooring system (turret and mooring clusters), LNG processing and liquefaction facilities, and an offloading system for LNG carriers. The internal turret mooring system is designed to enable safe weathervaning and support operations in the metocean conditions of the Rovuma Basin. These deepwater subsea architectures demand specialized contractors with years of experience in ultra-deepwater deployments, valve assemblies, umbilical systems, and dynamic positioning vessels capable of handling mooring installation at 2,000-metre depths. South African and Namibian logistics providers can position themselves in the regional supply chain by certifying for offshore support operations, vessel charters, and equipment logistics through Walvis Bay and Durban corridors.
Installation vessel demand spans mid-term and long-term horizons
Coral Norte's 2028 timeline creates urgent demand for heavy-lift vessels and specialized offshore installation contractors in 2027 and 2028. Japanese engineering company MODEC announced it will supply the internal turret mooring system for the floating production unit under a partnership with the Technip Energies-JGC joint venture. The third FLNG tender, targeting a 2031 start-up, opens a second demand window for qualified contractors. Global shipyards in Korea, Singapore, and Japan will build the hulls, but installation and commissioning work depends on a global fleet of pipelay vessels, Heave Compensated Heavy Lift Vessels (HCHLVs), and multipurpose supply ships. Namibian industrial procurement teams should monitor supply-chain qualification calendars from Technip, JGC, and Samsung between July 2026 and early 2027 as bidders gear up. The 6 MTPA tender requires contractors to demonstrate not just FLNG experience but proven capability in larger vessel systems. This tilts competitive advantage toward consortiums with experience on Shell's Prelude (3.6 MTPA) or equivalent assets.
SADC industrial supply chain: maritime logistics and equipment play
Industrial buyers across the SADC region—specifically in Angola, Zambia, and South Africa—should expect intensified demand for specialist maritime services: anchor handlers, utility vessels, tug and barge capacity, and spare equipment logistics. Port authorities in Walvis Bay, Durban, and Luanda will see sustained anchorage bookings and cargo throughput from equipment barges and modules destined for offshore fabrication and installation. Equipment suppliers in lifting rigging, connectors, and cable systems will face qualification audits from EPC contractors accelerating schedules in 2026 and 2027. SADC-based logistics companies positioned on Trans-Cunene (Namibia-Angola), Trans-Kalahari (Botswana-Namibia), and port corridors to Mozambique can capitalize on regional freight demand for subsea hardware, module transport, and storage yard operations. Marine procurement procurement teams managing floating infrastructure inventory—rigging hardware, lifting spreader bars, seafastening systems, and DNV-certified fasteners—should accelerate qualification timelines now.
What this means for SADC procurement
Mozambique's two-phase FLNG pipeline, driven by Coral Norte FID (2028 delivery) and a third tender (2031 delivery), creates staggered demand windows for deepwater installation contractors, subsea equipment suppliers, and maritime logistics providers. Industrial buyers in Walvis Bay, Windhoek, Luanda, and Durban should register interest now with qualifying EPC consortiums. Equipment suppliers must target DNV, ABS, and API certifications for subsea hardware and rigging systems. Port and logistics operators should pre-position capacity for barge charter, module storage, and cargo handling in H2 2026 through 2030. The qualification window is now open, and success depends on early engagement with project consortiums.
Secure your offshore rigging and subsea supply contracts before the third FLNG bidding cycle closes.
Marine Ropes sources specialist offshore fasteners, lifting equipment, and rigging hardware for deepwater projects. Connect with our sourcing team to align procurement schedules with Mozambique LNG timelines.
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About the Author
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Andre Klynsmith
Co-Shareholder · Technology & Operations
Andre's expertise spans technology, e-commerce, AI integration, and industrial procurement systems, driving Marine Ropes' digital transformation across Southern Africa.
salesdesk@marine-ropes.com
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marine-ropes.com
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Andre Klynsmith
