By Oleg Vukmanovic
LONDON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil (N:XOM) will expand its Rovuma liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique by half to cut production costs as the partners prepare to book the plant's supply and formally tap lenders in September, the company told Reuters.
The U.S. oil giant took charge of the East African LNG project's onshore operations following a $2.8 billion (2.12 billion pounds)deal with Italy's Eni (MI:ENI) last year, adding to its suite of projects in Qatar, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States.
It now aims to build the world's biggest liquefaction units, or trains, outside Qatar, in Mozambique's remote north, shelving former operator Eni's more modest blueprint in pursuit of cost savings to boost returns on investment.
"The larger train design will lower the unit cost of the Rovuma LNG project and ensure a competitive new supply for the global LNG market," Exxon spokeswoman Julie King said in response to emailed questions.
Under new development plans submitted to the government this week, Exxon's first two liquefaction trains should each produce 7.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with a start date in 2024.
Eni initially planned 5 mtpa trains.
The Italian oil major holds the offshore resource licence to Area 4, which contains some 85 trillion cubic feet of gas in place to be supercooled into a liquid and exported on ships to world markets.
Exxon's decision to super-size its first two trains meant it had to renegotiate a resource-sharing deal Eni struck in 2015 with rival LNG project developer Anadarko Petroleum (N:APC), which owns the neighbouring Area 1 licence, industry sources said.
A geologically porous section of Area 4 covering the Mamba and Prosperidade fields straddles Area 1. This effectively means Exxon-Eni would pump gas away from Anadarko's adjoining reservoir to feed its LNG plant.
"Area 4 and Area 1 stakeholders have agreed on the Unitization and Unit Operating Agreement which has been presented to the Mozambican government for approval," Exxon's King said.
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Mozambique's two rival LNG projects are ramping up to take final investment decisions (FID) in 2019 and both are teeing up buyers and loans to underpin hefty construction costs.
But there the similarities end.
Anadarko Petroleum's approach involves raising a record $14-$15 billion from banks and export credit agencies (ECAs) to fund the build. At the same time, it is lining up long-term LNG sales deals with external companies in China, Asia and Europe to guarantee the loans.
Exxon in contrast will finance a larger share of costs from its own pockets as well as drawing on project partners, including Eni, Korea Gas Corp (KS:036460) and China National Petroleum Corporation [CNPET.UL], bank and industry sources say.
Exxon said it expects Rovuma LNG financing to originate from a mix of "external lenders and joint-venture party funding."
"We have begun initial engagement with lenders and are planning a formal kick-off event in September 2018," King said.
Anadarko engaged commercial banks on May 21 after having first secured interest for about $12 billion from ECAs.
Production from Rovuma LNG will also be treated differently.
While Anadarko sought out buyers from France's EDF (PA:EDF) to Britain's Centrica (L:CNA) and Japan's Tokyo Gas (T:9531), Exxon is holding talks for binding sales and purchase agreements for Rovuma output with subsidiaries of its Area 4 project partners.
"We expect sufficient interest from the affiliate buyers to launch the project and support the financing," King said.