Saipem, in partnership with Belgian marine contractor Jan De Nul, has signed a letter of intent with ExxonMobil Moçambique for a contract related to Phase 1 of the Rovuma LNG project offshore Mozambique. The LoI marks a concrete step forward for one of Sub-Saharan Africa's most closely watched LNG developments, signalling that ExxonMobil is advancing procurement activity on the project after years of delays and uncertainty in the Mozambique basin.
The Rovuma LNG project has long been considered a cornerstone of Mozambique's ambition to become a major global LNG exporter, sitting alongside TotalEnergies' Area 1 development in the Rovuma Basin. ExxonMobil holds operatorship of the Area 4 block through its Mozambique subsidiary, and Phase 1 of the project targets large-scale LNG production for export to international markets. The engagement of Saipem and Jan De Nul — both heavyweights in offshore and marine construction — points toward significant subsea and marine infrastructure scope as the project moves toward a potential final investment decision.
The award of a formal LoI, rather than a full contract, indicates the project remains in the pre-FID contracting phase, where operators lock in key contractors under conditional agreements to preserve schedule optionality. For the broader Mozambique LNG sector, which has faced considerable headwinds including security concerns in Cabo Delgado province and the suspension of TotalEnergies' Area 1 works, this development represents a meaningful signal that international capital and contractors are still engaged with the basin's long-term potential.
For Norwegian oil and gas service companies tracking East African LNG opportunities, the Saipem-Jan De Nul pairing is a relevant market signal. Saipem carries strong subsea and offshore installation credentials, while Jan De Nul brings marine and dredging expertise — a combination suited to the offshore and nearshore infrastructure demands of an LNG development of this scale. As the project progresses toward FID and full contract awards, subcontracting and supply chain opportunities are likely to emerge across multiple work packages, including subsea systems, marine logistics, and associated infrastructure.