2024-03-21 23:50:42
The Congolese economy, which has always been based on oil, will now also be able to count – even if on a smaller scale – on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Congo-Brazzaville becomes a producer and exporter of LNG thanks to investments by the Italian oil group Eni. The very first shipment has just left Pointe-Noire (south), the economic capital.
With our special correspondent in Pointe-Noire, Loïcia Martial
On the Litchenjili site a short distance from Pointe-Noire, officials who came to witness the start of natural gas production watch a cargo ship anchoring in the Atlantic. In this boat is the first cargo of liquefied gas ready to leave. Symbolically, the Head of State Denis Sassou Nguesso opens a floodgate under the enthusiastic gaze of the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua. “ Today we celebrate both the start of production and the first cargo, therefore the export of liquefied natural gas for the first time in this country, welcomes the latter. For the moment, we are in the first phase which is that of 600 000 tonnes (per year) and next year we will increase to 3 million tons. »
A liquefaction plant delivered by Eni in record time
Most of the production will be exported and a tiny part, before liquefaction, will be intended for local consumption and power supply to the Congo power plantthe country’s first energy production unit.
The Italian company Eni invested 5 billion dollars in this factory of liquefaction which emerged in record time. Only one year for it to come out of the ground and be operational. “ We wanted (voluntarily) with the contractor for the project to be done very quickly, explains Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua. There is a very demanding market for gas. At the international level, the crisis between Ukraine and Russia is creating tensions on the market. Because there is a part of world production, particularly that of Russia, which is not available. There is very strong demand, prices are very high. So, any gas producer has an interest in moving quickly. »
Eni has used very advanced technologies to produce and process this gas more quickly. “ We have (in particular) used technologies that have allowed us to carry out small-scale modular LNG development, explains Claudio Descalzi, CEO of the Italian group. It is a model never used in Africa and even with few examples in the world. »
Harness the gas rather than flaring it
The production of liquefied natural gas brings real added value to the Congolese economy, according to the general director of the Autonomous Port of Pointe-Noire, Séraphin Balhat. “ Since the 1950s, we have been burning gas, we have been wasting wealth. The Head of State made this wise decision to ensure that this gas is now recovered, liquefied and exported for national wealth, for more income », he recalls.
The government also plans to produce fertilizers with this gas. This year, the production of liquefied natural gas should already bring in 29 billion CFA francs (around 44 million euros) to the state coffers.
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