The Republic of Congo is entering a new phase in its gas development. With the commissioning of Nguya FLNG, a floating liquefaction unit built by Chinese group Wison, the Congo LNG project now reaches a capacity of 3 million tonnes per year. Eni, operator of the offshore Marine XII licence via its local subsidiary Eni Congo, oversees the entire infrastructure, from the Nené and Litchendjili platforms to the Tango and Nguya liquefaction vessels, positioned offshore to reduce land-based exposure.
An industrial response to Europe’s gas crisis
For Eni, Congo LNG is more than a mid-sized African asset. It is a strategic anchor in a post-Russian architecture where Italy seeks to reduce its dependence on Moscow. Since 2022, Rome has strengthened energy ties with nearby partners (Algeria, Libya, Egypt) and Congo, seen as a stable jurisdiction with no international sanctions and offshore access at low entry cost. Italy currently imports more than 90% of its gas needs, and every secured non-Russian flow is a tactical gain in its energy balance.
Offshore infrastructure and full control of the value chain by Eni
Eni orchestrates the entire gas system: upstream, processing, liquefaction and cargo marketing. The first unit, Tango FLNG (0.6 mtpa), was redeployed from Argentina. The second, Nguya FLNG (2.4 mtpa), built in China, brought the project to 3 mtpa in under three years. The use of floating infrastructure helps bypass onshore constraints while minimising development time and cost. It also provides geographic flexibility if offtake routes need to be adjusted.
Congo becomes a visible player on the African LNG map
In the African gas landscape, Congo enters the second tier of producers. Far behind Algeria (~25 mtpa), Nigeria (~22 mtpa) and Egypt (~12 mtpa), Brazzaville aligns with countries like Angola (5.2 mtpa), Equatorial Guinea (3.7 mtpa), or Mozambique (3.4 mtpa). At 3 mtpa, Congolese volumes could account for up to 9% of the continent’s total LNG exports if current levels are maintained. Most cargoes are destined for Southern Europe, with reduced transit times, but could be redirected to Asia depending on market spreads.
A structuring economic model for Brazzaville
Congo’s economic model is based on an existing production-sharing agreement between the state, represented by Société nationale des pétroles du Congo (SNPC), and Eni. This framework guarantees a direct volume share to Brazzaville, supplemented by royalties, corporate taxes and potential long-term offtake revenues over 15 to 20 years. A new gas code is under preparation to clarify domestic supply obligations, secure midstream investment, and codify fiscal rights for each exported cubic metre.
Legal stability and compliance make it a bankable asset
Unlike other African projects exposed to sanctions or insecurity — such as Mozambique LNG — Congo LNG benefits from a relatively stable legal framework. The Democratic Republic of Congo is under international monitoring, but not Brazzaville. No systemic OFAC or UN sanctions currently apply to the Republic of Congo, making the project eligible for institutional financing, provided that counterparties and subcontractors are thoroughly screened for compliance.
Market impact, cargo flows and logistical risk
Congolese LNG is primarily positioned to supply Italian, Spanish and French terminals. The FLNG setup concentrates all operations on two vessels, increasing vulnerability to outages or disruptions in the Gulf of Guinea. However, Eni’s full operational control enables volume adjustments based on spot demand or market conditions.
Regional consequences and long-term strategy
The success of Congo LNG strengthens Eni’s position to replicate the FLNG model across other African offshore gas resources. Angola, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal could follow a similar path. For Italy, it consolidates its ambition to become a southern European gas hub. For Brazzaville, the challenge now is to channel LNG revenues into domestic infrastructure such as electricity, petrochemicals and fertilisers to reduce long-term exposure to export dependency.
