Eni hopeful for Mozambique LNG

Italian energy company Eni said it was eager to help Mozambique become a hub for liquefied natural gas exports to Asian economies.

Paolo Scaroni, chief executive officer at Eni, met in Brussels with Mozambique President Armando Geubuza to review developments of the country's gas sector.

The Italian company said in a statement operations in Mozambique "include the construction of onshore and offshore gas liquefaction plants, to serve international markets and mainly Asia, and projects aimed at supplying energy for local consumption."

Asian markets are taking on more international supplies of natural gas in order to satisfy the needs of their expanding economies.

Eni last year said it made a "high impact" discovery while working in the Agulha exploration prospect in the deep waters off the coast of Mozambique. It estimated the area may hold as much as 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in place.

Eni estimates there are 80 trillion cubic feet of natural gas at its Mamba Complex and Coral discoveries in Mozambique.