MSC launches line to serve Mozambican gas megaprojects

Ninformation from the company consulted today by Lusa, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announces the launch of the Afungi Shuttle service, a dedicated coastal link between Afungi and the Nacala ports in the north, and Maputo, in the south, to support the movement of goods for the natural gas development projects in northern Mozambique.

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Geneva, MSC is currently the largest shipping container company in the world, operating a fleet close to a thousand ships and regular connections to major international markets.

The announcement comes at a time when energy operators reinforce preparations for the development of gas megaprojects in the Rovuma basin, north of Mozambique, but also a year after Cabo Delgado entrepreneurs warned of the risk of logistical isolation of Afungi, given indications that the supply to the complex would give priority to air and sea routes for safety reasons.

At the time, representatives of the local private sector expressed fear that the restrictions would remove companies based inside the province, in a region affected since October 2017 by armed attacks claimed by groups associated with the Islamic State, a conflict that caused more than 6,600 deaths and more than one million displaced persons.

According to MSC, the Afungi Shuttle was developed to facilitate the transport of construction materials, machinery, industrial equipment, spare parts and other goods necessary for the development of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Afungi, north of Palma, currently accessible only by sea and air.

The operation includes dedicated rotations Nacala-Afungi-Nacala (Nampula Province) and Maputo-Afungi-Maputo, reinforcing the logistic link between the northern tip of Cabo Delgado and the main Mozambican ports.

The carrier adds that the service will allow Afungi to integrate into its global navigation network, linking northern Mozambique to trade routes serving Europe, Mediterranean, America, Asia, Middle East and southern Africa.

The launch takes place after the lifting of the force majeure clause of the Mozambique LNG project, led by French TotalEnergies, whose operational recovery was officially marked in Afungi in January this year, almost five years after the suspension of activities due to armed attacks in and around Palma.

In February, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil also advanced with a joint competition to hire seven vessels and tugboats for maritime operations to support the projects of Areas 1 and 4 of the Rovuma basin. In this procedure, the concessionaires estimated an annual movement of about 400 LNG and condensed vessels through Afungi, illustrating the increasing importance of the maritime component for the development of the projects.

Area 1, led by TotalEnergies, plans to start LNG exports in 2029, with a production capacity of 13 million tonnes per year.

On the other hand, the Rovuma LNG project, led by ExxonMobil in Area 4, awaits the final investment decision, scheduled for September, and points to a production capacity of 18 million tons annually.

The two concessions in Afungi provide for the sharing of facilities and represent an overall investment of USD 50 billion (EUR 42.4 billion).

Mozambique has approved three major projects to exploit the vast natural gas reserves of the Rovuma basin, considered among the largest in the world.

In addition to the megaprojects of ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, Italian Eni has been producing since 2022 through the Southern Coral floating platform and plans to expand production from 2028 with the North Coral, and a third unit is also under study.