MAPUTO — ExxonMobil Moçambique, Limitada, acting on behalf of its Area 4 partners, has issued a letter of intent to the SMDC joint venture for early engineering and procurement services, marking a key operational step for the multibillion-dollar Rovuma LNG project in northern Mozambique.
The SMDC consortium comprising Saipem S.p.A, McDermott Energy Solutions (UK) Ltd., Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., and China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation will carry out limited engineering and procurement (EPC) work for Phase 1 of the midstream development. The agreement allows the partners to refine technical designs and project planning ahead of an expected final investment decision (FID) in 2026.
“The selection of our onshore EPC contractor is an important milestone advancing the Rovuma LNG project,” said Johanna Boothey, Lead Country Manager for ExxonMobil in Mozambique. “We will continue to work with the Government of Mozambique and our partners toward FID and to maximize the long-term benefits this project can deliver to the people of Mozambique.”
The planned onshore liquefaction facility is set to feature 12 modular liquefaction units with a combined export capacity of 18.6 million tonnes of LNG per year, with initial commercial operations targeted for 2031. The project stands as one of the largest private sector investments in Mozambique’s history.
According to a macroeconomic assessment by Standard Bank, the Rovuma LNG venture could add roughly $11 billion annually to Mozambique’s gross domestic product and generate more than 150,000 jobs during its lifecycle. Over a projected 30-year operational span, the development is estimated to yield approximately $150 billion in government revenue.
ExxonMobil serves as the delegated operator for Area 4’s midstream development alongside concession partners Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Eni S.p.A., KOGAS, and XRG.
