ENI finds major gas reserves in Mozambique

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ROME, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Italian energy company ENI estimated there was around 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas off the coast of Mozambique following a new resource discovery.

"ENI announces a new giant natural gas discovery at the Mamba North 1 prospect, in Area 4 offshore Mozambique, encountering a mineral potential of 7.5 trillion cubic feet of gas in place," the company said in a statement.

ENI late year said a major natural gas discovery in the Mamba South prospect, estimated at around 22.5 tcf, marked the largest discovery in the company's exploration history.

The discovery brings the reserve estimate in the region to around 30 tcf, the company said.

ENI had said the discovery could lead to major developments in the natural gas sector in Mozambique. This includes access to regional and international markets through liquefied natural gas capacities.

Last year, U.S. energy company Anadarko Petroleum Corp. said an appraisal well off the coast of Mozambique held at least 30 tcf of natural gas, twice the size of the previous estimate.

ENI's discovery was made in deep water about 25 miles north of Mozambique.