Maputo, Sept. 11, 2026 (Lusa) - ExxonMobil has selected two Mozambican companies to provide logistical support services for the Rovuma LNG project, reinforcing the local content strategy as preparations continue for the final investment decision (FID) on the mega gas project in northern Mozambique.
ExxonMobil, acting on behalf of Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), which represents the Area 4 partners, announced the award and stated that CFML Logistics – part of the state-owned Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique – has been selected to provide services relating to the land and infrastructure of the logistics base at the Pemba Bulk Terminal, whilst Alistair Group Mozambique will be responsible for services relating to the logistics operations supporting the Area 4 drilling campaign and offshore operations.
Quoted in the press release, the chair of the board of directors and managing director of ExxonMobil Mozambique, Johanna Boothey, stated that the contract awards demonstrate «a strong commitment to local content», adding that the contracts are expected to contribute to the development of national capabilities and the creation of lasting value in the country.
She added that the contracts are also expected to support the development of long-term port infrastructure in Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province, with the potential to benefit other sectors of the economy beyond the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil announced it had signed letters of intent with Saipem and Jan de Nul to provide engineering, procurement and technical support services for the project's upstream segment.
The work is expected to enable detailed planning to proceed for the development of the subsea infrastructure required for natural gas production in Area 4.
According to the press release, the ‘upstream' phase comprises 18 wells and a network of subsea pipelines, and is taking place whilst the partners move towards the final investment decision, scheduled for this year. The international consortium was selected due to its experience in engineering, construction and installation projects for subsea infrastructure in deep waters.
The new contracts come just a few weeks after ExxonMobil announced pre-investment contracts valued at $1.1 billion (€947 million) for the procurement and manufacture of equipment deemed critical to the development of the Rovuma LNG project, involving the engineering, procurement and manufacture of subsea production systems, large-diameter valves and offshore gas pipelines – a sign that the partners are accelerating preparations for the FID, still scheduled for this year.
Also in August, the US oil company contracted the Greek firm Corinth Pipeworks to supply approximately 250 kilometres of pipework for the project's subsea gas transmission network, under a contract valued at between $200 million and $250 million (€172 million and €215 million).
ExxonMobil leads Rovuma LNG as the delegated operator of Area 4, in partnership with ENH, CNPC, Eni, KOGAS and XRG. The project is valued at around $20 billion (€17.2 billion), a figure that Mozambican President Daniel Chapo described in July as the largest private investment planned for the African continent.
The development involves building 12 liquefaction trains with a combined capacity to produce 18.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, with operations scheduled to begin in 2031.
According to ExxonMobil, the Rovuma LNG project could generate around $6 billion (€5.2 billion) in economic activity in Mozambique and create opportunities for around 7,500 Mozambican workers during construction.
In November 2025, ExxonMobil lifted the force majeure declaration that had kept the project on hold since the 2021 armed attacks in Cabo Delgado.
Mozambique currently has three major projects approved for the exploitation of reserves in the Rovuma basin, including TotalEnergies, which plans to begin exports from Area 1 in 2029, whilst the Italian company Eni has been producing since 2022 via the Coral Sul floating platform and plans to expand its operations from 2028 with the Coral Norte project.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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