ExxonMobil Moçambique is reported to have awarded SLB OneSubsea a subsea systems contract on 29 September 2026 for Phase 1 of Rovuma LNG in the Area 4 block of Mozambique’s Rovuma basin. The contract is said to have been awarded on behalf of the Area 4 partners, and its value and delivery schedule are reportedly undisclosed. Rovuma LNG is described as a project targeting LNG production of 18 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
The scope is said to cover engineering, procurement and manufacturing (EPM) of subsea trees, manifolds, umbilicals and associated control systems, together with installation support services. The client is ExxonMobil Moçambique Ltda., reportedly acting on behalf of the Area 4 partners. The contractor is SLB’s OneSubsea joint venture.
The contract relates to the deepwater Rovuma LNG Phase 1 development in the Area 4 block, offshore northern Mozambique. The subsea production system is the upstream equipment that carries gas produced from deepwater fields toward the onshore LNG facilities. SLB OneSubsea is reported to plan a service base in Mozambique to support local training, employment and regional supply chain development.
Rovuma LNG capacity is reported at 18 mtpa, and Area 4 gas reserves are reported at more than 85 trillion cubic feet (tcf). The ownership structure is described as Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV) 70% (with ExxonMobil, Eni and CNPC participating and ExxonMobil as operator), Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) 10%, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) 10% and XRG 10%. The contract value, the number of subsea trees and the delivery and installation timing are reportedly undisclosed.
Rovuma LNG aims to export the large Area 4 gas resource as LNG, and the award indicates that a key supplier of deepwater subsea equipment has been selected, a concrete sign of project progress. However, the sources reviewed do not confirm whether a final investment decision (FID) has been formally announced.
First, in large LNG projects the subsea production system award influences the schedule of both upstream development and onshore liquefaction, so supplier selection can serve as an indicator of project progress. Second, the partner mix, which includes a buyer-country state company and a Middle East-linked investor, shows demand access and capital raising being built into project structure. Third, the equipment supplier’s plan to set up a local service base suggests that building a local supply chain is becoming part of contract execution in large resource developments. Fourth, with the contract value and delivery schedule undisclosed, it is difficult to determine the overall investment size or start-up timing of the project.
First, whether and when the Rovuma LNG FID is formally announced is the main item to confirm. Second, selection and award of the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor for the onshore liquefaction facilities should be monitored. Third, it is worth watching whether details such as the number of subsea trees and delivery and installation schedules are released. Fourth, the effect of security conditions in northern Mozambique and progress at the neighboring Area 1 project on the schedule should be checked. Fifth, movements in long-term LNG sales agreements should also be followed.