Offshore Technology

Angola LNG explores expansion options as gas supplies set to increase

The $12bn Angola liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant is presently underutilised due to declining gas production from its mature fields.

Angola LNG is exploring expansion options including a mini train of three million tonnes per annum (mtpa) as new gas supplies to its facility are expected ramp up in the next 12 months, reported Reuters, citing sources.

Angola LNG is a joint venture between Angola's state-owned Sonangol, Chevron, TotalEnergies and Azule Energy, a partnership between Eni and BP.

The Angola LNG project was developed to collect and process natural gas, delivering up to 5.2mtpa of LNG to global markets through as many as 80 cargo shipments annually.

The $12bn Angola LNG plant has been in operation for more than a decade, but is presently underutilised due to declining gas production from its mature fields.

Currently, it operates at 70% capacity, averaging around 700 million standard cubic feet per day, according to government officials.

Additional supplies from Chevron and the New Gas Consortium will help the plant to operate at full capacity by the end of 2025.

Chevron's Sanha Lean Gas Connection will supply enough gas to fulfil around 40% of the plant’s feed, starting from the end of 2024 and lasting for a period of 15 years.

The New Gas Consortium partners encompass Eni (25.6%, operator), Chevron affiliate Angola Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC; 31%), Sonangol P&P (19.8%), bp (11.8%) and TotalEnergies (11.8%).

Azule Energy chief executive officer Adriano Mongini told Reuters: “Angola LNG is already thinking about this expansion, if it is a mini train or one additional train, so there are many ways to do it.”

With full capacity, the Angola LNG plant aims to capitalise on growing demand in Asia and Europe to unlock new market opportunities.

The New Gas Consortium project is on track to begin production by the end of 2025, six months ahead of the original schedule, according to Azule’s CEO.

Meanwhile, Angola's first gas-specific exploration is also expected to supply additional feedstock to the facility.

The well is due to be drilled early next year, said Mongini on the sidelines of an African energy conference in Cape Town.

Angola's 25-year gas master plan outlines the development of more than 40 gas fields, with 38 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of discovered gas and 56tcf of prospective resources.