Eni has announced the successful introduction of gas into the Tango Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility in Congolese waters only twelve months after the final investment decision was made.
This marks a significant milestone for the Congo LNG project, which has utilized new technologies and a strong synergy with existing producing assets, as Eni stated in a press release.
Following completion of the commissioning phase, Tango FLNG will produce its first LNG cargo by the first quarter of 2024, placing the Republic of Congo on the list of LNG-producing countries.
The Tango FLNG facility, which has a liquefaction capacity of about 1 billion cubic meters per year (bcm/d), is moored alongside the Excalibur Floating Storage Unit (FSU) using an innovative configuration called “split mooring,” a first for a floating LNG terminal.
The Congo LNG project is expected to enhance the gas resources of the Marine XII permit and achieve a plateau gas liquefaction capacity of approximately 4.5 bcm/d through phased development. The project also has a target of zero routine gas flaring. Moreover, a second FLNG facility with a capacity of about 3.5 bcm/d is currently under construction and is expected to begin production in 2025. All the LNG produced will be marketed by Eni.
Notably, Eni has been operating in the Congo for 55 years and is the only company actively involved in the development of the country’s gas resources. The company currently supplies gas to the Centrale Électrique du Congo (CEC), which provides 70% of the country’s power generation capacity.
Eni is committed to promoting the nation’s energy transition through various initiatives, including the Oyo Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. This center was recently handed over to the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovation of the Republic of Congo, which will manage it in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Additionally, Eni is working on the production of agricultural raw materials, which will not compete with the food supply chain, to be used as biofuel feedstocks. The company has also started distributing stoves to local communities, with the aim of reducing biomass consumption and associated emissions.
