London — The Italian energy company, ENI, on Wednesday announced further discoveries of natural gas in the Rovuma Basin, off the coast of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

The discoveries were made at the Mamba South 2 and Coral 2 wells, and add a further 6 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to the known gas reserves for Offshore Area 4, where ENI is the operating company. This brings the known potential for the Mamba Complex in Area 4 up to an estimated 75 tcf of gas.

Mamba South 2 is located 50 kilometres off the Cabo Delgado coast, where the water is 1,918 metres deep. Coral 2 is also 50 kilometres off the coast and at similar depths.

ENI will now drill at least two further wells at Coral 3 and Mamba South 3.

The new discoveries add to Mozambique’s known gas reserves, which include the massive reserves in neighbouring Offshore Area 1 operated by the US company Anadarko, and the Pande and Temane gas fields off the coast of Inhambane province operated by the South African chemical giant Sasol.

ENI is the operator of Area 4 with a 70 per cent participating interest.

Its partners are Galp Energia of Portugal, Kogas of South Korea, and Mozambique’s own National Hydrocarbon Company (ENH), each of which has a 10 per cent share.