Eni Starts Phase 2 of Congo LNG Project Ahead of Schedule
Eni has launched Phase 2 of its Congo LNG project ahead of schedule, adding the Nguya FLNG unit and boosting output to 3 MMtpy. The expansion strengthens Congo’s role in global LNG supply and demonstrates record-speed project delivery.
MILAN (P&GJ) — Eni has begun operations for Phase 2 of its Congo LNG project ahead of schedule, marking a major step toward exporting the first cargo in early 2026. The launch follows the arrival of the Nguya FLNG floating liquefaction unit and the introduction of gas into new offshore infrastructure.
Phase 2 includes three production platforms, the Scarabeo 5 unit for gas treatment and compression, and the Nguya FLNG for liquefaction and export. The expansion increases the project’s total capacity to 3 million tonnes per year (MMtpy), equivalent to about 4.5 billion cubic meters per year.
The project, which develops gas from the Nené and Litchendjili fields in the Marine XII license, allows flexible, phased management of output between the Tango FLNG, operational since late 2023, and the new Nguya FLNG.
Phase 2 was completed just 35 months after construction began, which Eni said sets “a new benchmark for execution speed and efficiency.”
“This milestone was achieved thanks to a combination of technological innovation, rigorous industrial planning, and strong engagement with local stakeholders,” Eni said in a statement, adding that a significant portion of the project was carried out in-country to build local capacity and support national industry.
The Nguya FLNG, measuring 376 meters long and 60 meters wide, features technologies designed to reduce emissions and handle multiple gas compositions, supporting potential future field tie-ins. The Scarabeo 5, converted from a drilling rig, integrates decarbonization-oriented systems and demonstrates circular-economy principles, according to Eni.
Eni has operated in the Republic of the Congo for more than five decades and continues to invest in gas development and energy transition initiatives. The company supplies gas to the Centrale Électrique du Congo, which generates about 70% of the nation’s electricity, and is upgrading transmission infrastructure between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville. Eni is also advancing biofuel feedstock projects and programs supporting access to energy, water, and healthcare in local communities.