Mozambique’s ENH Launches First Offshore Drilling Campaign at Coral Norte Project in Rovuma Basin
Mozambique’s state-owned oil and gas company, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), has reached a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector by participating directly in offshore drilling operations for the first time.
The drilling campaign began on November 1 at the Coral Norte project in the Rovuma Basin, marking a new phase in ENH’s evolution from a state energy partner to an active participant in offshore exploration and production activities.
Operations are being carried out by ENH-Saipem Drilling Company, a joint venture in which ENH holds a 51% stake, while Italian engineering and energy services group Saipem owns the remaining 49%.
The campaign is being executed by the Saipem 12000 drillship and is expected to run for approximately ten months.
According to Mozambique’s National Petroleum Institute (INP), the programme will involve the drilling and completion of up to six production wells in two phases, supporting the continued development of the Coral Norte project.
ENH Chairman Rudêncio Morais said the company’s direct involvement in the campaign would play a key role in building local technical expertise and strengthening Mozambique’s capacity in offshore drilling operations.
Under the programme, Mozambican technicians will work alongside Saipem specialists aboard the drillship, gaining hands-on experience in highly specialised offshore activities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to develop a skilled national workforce capable of supporting the country’s growing oil and gas industry.
The campaign represents another step in Mozambique’s drive to increase local participation across the energy value chain as major developments continue to advance in the resource-rich Rovuma Basin, one of Africa’s most important natural gas provinces.
By taking a leading role in offshore drilling operations, ENH is positioning itself to deepen its technical capabilities while helping ensure that future sector growth delivers greater benefits to Mozambique’s workforce and economy.
