• First LNG cargo exported from Nguya FLNG unit

• Project capacity rises to 3 million tons per year

• Gas sourced from Marine XII block operated by Eni

Congo LNG has marked a new operational milestone with the shipment of its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo produced under Phase 2, according to a statement by Italian operator Eni. The move signals the start of commercial exports from the project’s second phase.

On Saturday, February 7, the first LNG cargo departed from the Nguya FLNG floating unit in Pointe-Noire during an official ceremony attended by Congolese President Denis Sassou N’Guesso and Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi, the company said.

With Phase 2 now operational, Congo LNG’s total liquefaction capacity reaches about 3 million tons per year, equivalent to 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas, Eni said. Phase 1, supported by the Tango FLNG unit, has a capacity of 0.6 million tons per year.

Natural gas is produced from the offshore Nené and Litchendjili fields located in the Marine XII license area. The block is operated by Eni, which holds a 65% stake, alongside Lukoil with 25% and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo with 10%.

The Congo LNG project is part of the Republic of Congo’s strategy to monetize its gas resources. According to estimates cited by Ecofin Agency in December 2025, the project could account for between 8% and 9% of Africa’s LNG exports, based on total African exports of 34.7 million tons in 2024, according to data from the African Energy Chamber, S&P Global Commodity Insights and the International Group of LNG Importers.

The development comes as authorities prepare a new gas code and implement local content policies aimed at strengthening the attractiveness of Congo’s gas sector for international investors.

At the regional level, Congo is positioning itself among African LNG-exporting countries, alongside Algeria and Nigeria. Part of the gas produced is also allocated to domestic needs, including power generation.

Abdel-Latif Boureima