Victoria Tchen, ICIS, UK, investigates the LNG sector in Africa, and how the continent offers significant potential in both export and import avenues.
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hile progress in new African LNG projects has been slow in recent times, the continent offers huge opportunities for developers of both export and import infrastructure. Several LNG export projects are underway in Mozambique, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. The most significant remains Mozambique, which could see the country overtake Nigeria as the largest exporter on the continent. But local insurgency and security threats have put doubts over the completion of LNG projects in the country. On LNG imports, Ghana’s Tema terminal is approaching completion and is expected to come online in 2022. A range of conventional import projects are planned for South Africa, with a recent start for a small scale LNG project.
Mozambique projects delayed, Tanzania talks resume Local insurgency has delayed the 12.9 million tpy Mozambique LNG project’s start-up beyond 2025. French major TotalEnergies postponed the project’s start to 2026. Local insurgency in Mozambique ended with the Rwandan and Mozambican security forces taking back control of the key port city of Mocimboa da Praia near the Mozambique LNG project in August 2021. The worsening security situation previously led TotalEnergies to declare force majeure on the project in early 2021.
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