The inaugural loading of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the Republic of Congo marked a significant occasion, celebrated heartily by eminent figures. The country’s president, Denis Sassou-N’Guesso, the president of Eni’s Board of Directors, Giuseppe Zafarana, and Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, took part in the commemoration. As per a press release from the company, this first shipment positions the Republic of Congo as a new entrant in the group of LNG exporting nations. This development paves the way for promising economic growth opportunities in the country and contributes to achieving a balanced global energy supply.
Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi, expressed his views on the maiden shipment of LNG from Congo, attributing its success to the steadfast dedication of Eni and its partners, along with the unwavering backing of the Republic of Congo’s government. He emphasized how the collaborative efforts and shared expertise, knowledge and technologies between Eni and local partners have guaranteed additional revenues for the country and significantly contributed to securing Europe’s energy needs.
The Congo LNG project, which received approval in December 2022, started producing gas within a span of just one year, adhering to the initially projected timeline. This has been possible due to Eni’s characteristic phased and parallelized approach, bolstered by a highly efficient execution plan. The first LNG cargo is currently being prepared for transportation and is expected to embark on its journey to the Piombino regasification terminal in the forthcoming days. Situated in the Marine XII permit area, the project anticipates achieving a peak gas liquefaction capacity of approximately 4.5 billion cubic meters annually, while also ensuring zero flaring from assets operated in the country. Eni will manage the marketing of these volumes, fortifying and extending the company’s LNG portfolio as part of its strategy towards energy security and transition.
Since 1968, Eni has maintained a significant presence in Congo and is the sole company involved in the country’s gas resource development. Currently, Eni provides gas to the Centrale Èlectrique du Congo (CEC), accounting for 70% of the country’s electricity generation capacity. Eni remains deeply committed to fostering energy transition in the country through various initiatives. These include the Oyo Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which is supported by Eni and supervised by the Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, in collaboration with UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization). In addition, Eni aims to integrate Congo into the sustainable mobility value chain through the production of agri feedstock for biorefining. It also encourages clean cooking practices with the goal of reducing biomass consumption and associated combustion emissions.
