The Rovuma wait

Political instability and infighting will force gas onto the back burner in 2017

For Mozambique, 2017 really ought to be the year when investors make final decisions to invest in the country's giant offshore gas projects. Alas, political instability is more likely to drag on, stifling those and other ventures. Italy's Eni, which has successfully divided its extensive Offshore Area 4 into bite-sized projects, was hoping to make its final decision on the proposed Coral South floating liquefied natural gas project before the end of 2016. In 2017, Anadarko should get approval for its development plan for the Golfinho field in Area 1 - a more substantial undertaking that would involve onshore LNG trains. While those projects edge ahead, the corporate scene will change. ExxonM