(Unofficial Translation)

Fellow Koreans, residents of Gyeongsangnam-do Province and distinguished guests from home and abroad, 

Today, we are holding this naming and maiden voyage ceremony for the Coral-Sul FLNG, a floating LNG plant built by Samsung Heavy Industries. A FLNG is a multifunctional mobile offshore plant capable of producing, liquefying, storing and offloading liquefied natural gas at sea. This achievement is the result of close cooperation among businesses from many countries, including Mozambique, Korea, Italy, the United States, China, Japan, France and Portugal. President Filipe Nyusi and First Lady Isaura Nyusi of Mozambique are with us in person at this ceremony to celebrate today’s event. Please welcome the presidential couple and the entire Mozambique delegation with a warm heart.

President Nyusi is the first African head of state to visit Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic began. A living witness to Mozambique’s independence movement, he is spearheading his country’s leap forward with public backing. Last year, he personally took part in a dedication ceremony for the POSCO E&C-constructed road that links the Mozambican cities of Nampula and Nametil, speaking about the importance of cooperation with Korea. Today, he honors us at this ceremony with his presence.

It is all the more meaningful for me to welcome President Nyusi to Geojedo Island where I was born. The Coral-Sul FLNG makes its maiden voyage tomorrow and will be producing and offloading 3.4 million tons of LNG annually in waters off Cabo Delgado Province, where President Nyusi grew up. I hope cooperation between our two countries strengthens further, building upon our profound ties today, and becomes like the close relationship of hometown friends.

President Nyusi and the First Lady, distinguished guests, fellow Koreans,

The sea wind this early winter day is cold, but the heat here at Samsung Heavy Industries is stronger than ever. The gigantic Coral-Sul FLNG – the size of four soccer fields – will finally depart for the Indian Ocean tomorrow and play an active role in the Area 4 gas field off the coast of northern Mozambique.

Mozambique’s offshore gas field is believed to be the world’s largest one. Once LNG production begins in earnest, the Mozambican economy is forecast to register a high average annual growth of more than 10 percent. In addition, its infrastructure and manufacturing are also expected to grow in tandem. The LNG mass-produced by the Coral-Sul FLNG will also be of great help to the world on its journey to carbon neutrality. The world is now paying close attention to LNG as the complete transition to renewables and carbon-free energy like green hydrogen will take considerable time and effort. During the process of achieving carbon neutrality, LNG is one of the best sources of low-carbon energy to replace coal and oil. No other fossil fuel has lower carbon emissions, and it is highly efficient at generating power.

This project is especially significant because we were able to succeed through cooperation with businesses from various countries around the world. I am grateful to all of the participating companies. I hope that with the Coral-Sul FLNG, Mozambique will emerge as an economic powerhouse in Africa. 

Korea is the world’s foremost shipbuilding powerhouse. It has received the most orders in the global ship market and possesses unrivaled competitiveness, particularly with eco-friendly and high-value-added vessels such as large container ships as well as LNG and very large crude carriers. Korea has built not only the world’s first and biggest FLNGs but all four of the large FLNGs currently sailing around the world.

Korea plans to advance key technologies for eco-friendly ships and develop carbon-free and smart ships. Korea hopes to become the optimal cooperative partner in the project to build Mozambique’s large LNG carrier as well.

I hope that the Coral-Sul FLNG will sail safely to Mozambique across the Indian Ocean and spearhead its economic growth and prosperity. I express my gratitude once more to President Nyusi, the First Lady and his delegation for visiting Korea. 

Thank you.