Area 4 Partners Select Saipem-Jan De Nul for Rovuma LNG Upstream EPCI

ExxonMobil Moçambique, Limitada, on behalf of Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV) representing the Area 4 partners, has signed a letter of intent with Saipem and Jan de Nul for the Rovuma LNG project’s upstream engineering, procurement and technical services, according to a company announcement dated September 10, 2026. The Area 4 co-venturers selected the consortium for the project’s upstream engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract and awarded Shorebase services contracts to two Mozambican-owned companies.

The announcement, datelined Maputo, names the Area 4 partners as ENH, CNPC, ENI, KOGAS and XRG. According to ExxonMobil, the selection will support detailed planning and project definition for the Rovuma LNG upstream development, including 18 wells and a network of subsea pipelines and manifolds, as the Area 4 partners progress toward a final investment decision (FID) in 2026.

Saipem confirmed the agreement in a statement issued from Milan the same day. Saipem said the letter of intent covers limited preliminary engineering and procurement and other technical services aimed at advancing project definition and execution planning, for an initial value of approximately €11 million. The final award of the EPCI contract to the consortium is subject to a positive FID by the Area 4 partners and receipt of the necessary government and regulatory approvals, which Saipem said are expected within 2026.

According to Saipem, the upstream facilities will deliver gas from the offshore Area 4 resources to the onshore Rovuma LNG liquefaction plant from 18 subsea wells through a network of subsea pipelines and manifolds. ExxonMobil (XOM ) said the consortium brings extensive global experience in EPCI support for subsea production equipment and associated structures, umbilicals and flowlines in deepwater execution environments, while Saipem cited the consortium’s experience in the EPCI of subsea facilities, including gas export pipelines, umbilicals, infield flowlines and related infrastructure in shallow and deepwater environments.

“We are pleased to announce the selection of upstream EPCI contractor. These selections ensure that we are prepared to begin construction following final investment decision and deliver the first LNG cargo on schedule,” said Johanna Boothey, ExxonMobil Mozambique’s Lead Country Manager and Chairperson.

The Shorebase awards went to two Mozambican-owned companies to provide Shorebase and logistics support services in Pemba for the Area 4 drilling campaign and related offshore operations. CFML Logistic S.A received the contract for Shorebase land and infrastructure services at the Pemba Bulk Terminal, and Alistair Group Mozambique LDA received the contract for Shorebase logistics services.

“The awards we made to two Mozambican owned companies demonstrate our strong commitment to local content. These contracts will help build local capability, create lasting value for Mozambique and support long-term port infrastructure that can benefit industries beyond the oil and gas sector,” Boothey added.

ExxonMobil said the Rovuma LNG project is expected to generate approximately US$6 billion in economic activity in Mozambique and create opportunities for approximately 7,500 Mozambicans during the construction phase.

Earlier Rovuma LNG Contract Awards in 2026

The Area 4 partners awarded a separate letter of intent on August 10, 2026 to the SMDC joint venture, comprising Saipem S.p.A (SPEA.DE ), McDermott Energy Solutions (UK) Ltd., Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd., and China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation, for limited engineering and procurement services supporting Phase 1 of the Rovuma LNG midstream development. ExxonMobil said that work supports continued project definition and planning activities as the partners progress toward FID.

According to that announcement, the Rovuma LNG onshore development is expected to include 12 modular liquefaction modules with total production capacity of 18.6 million tonnes of LNG per year, with start-up anticipated in 2031. The company described the project as one of the largest private investments in Mozambique’s history and said it is expected to contribute approximately US$150 billion in revenues to the Government of Mozambique over its 30-year operating life. ExxonMobil also cited a macroeconomic study released by Standard Bank estimating that the project, led by ExxonMobil in the capacity of Area 4 Delegated Operator, could add around US$11 billion annually to Mozambique’s gross domestic product and employ more than 150,000 people.

On August 17, 2026, the co-venturers awarded approximately US$1.1 billion in pre-investment contracts for critical long-lead upstream equipment and early site construction activities supporting the Rovuma LNG Phase 1 development in Cabo Delgado. The contracts cover the engineering, procurement and manufacturing of subsea production systems, large bore production valves and offshore line pipe.

The largest contract was granted to OneSubsea UK Limited and OneSubsea AS, with in-country work to be supported by Aker Solutions Mozambique, Limitada, for engineering, procurement, fabrication and manufacturing services related to subsea production systems, controls and umbilicals. Additional awards went to Advanced Technology Valve S.p.A. for large bore production valves, Corinth Pipeworks Pipe Industry Single Member S.A. for the manufacture, coating, testing, preservation and storage of submerged arc welded line pipe, Sumitomo Corporation of America for seamless line pipe, and Zhejiang Jiuli Hi-Tech Metals Co., Ltd. for mechanically lined pipe, induction bends, weld overlay products and associated line pipe systems. ExxonMobil said awarding the contracts before FID optimizes project execution timelines and helps ensure the availability of critical infrastructure.