Trident Energy's FLNG Project in Congo-Brazzaville

UK-based Trident Energy is advancing a mid-size floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project offshore Congo-Brazzaville, a nation that has become a testing ground for FLNG technology led by Eni. Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Eni capitalized on replacing Russian gas imports with LNG from Congo-Brazzaville, starting with the Tango FLNG unit (600,000 tonnes per annum, online late 2023) and the Nguya vessel (3 million tpa, first cargo in February 2025).

Trident's Assets and Gas Potential

Privately-owned Trident has accumulated mature assets from oil majors in Congo-Brazzaville. After acquiring Chevron and TotalEnergies assets in 2025, it operates the N'Kossa and N'Soko II licences, which hold sizeable untapped gas resources. CEO Jean-Michel Jacoulot confirmed a major gas project called "Nkossa gas," with significant potential, and stated the company is working to sanction it with government support, describing it as a massive investment.

Project Status and Vessel Specifications

Three independent sources indicate Trident's FLNG project has reached the stage of sounding out contractors about workloads and indicative prices. The operator has approached FLNG vessel fabricators and providers to gauge interest. The vessel could be a newbuild or conversion, with capacity ranging between 2.4 million and 3 million tpa.

Potential Contractors

Potential contractors include Belgium's Exmar, which handles operations and maintenance on the Tango unit and manages Trident's Nkossa II floating storage and offloading vessel for LPG. Exmar's 2025 annual report notes it continues developing multiple floating liquefaction projects (500,000 tpa to 5 million tpa). Wison New Energies, which built the Nguya vessel, is another option. Golar LNG, aiming for a fourth FLNG contract this year and eyeing West Africa, is also a possible contender. Trident declined to comment.