President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 15 gives a congratulatory speech at the naming and maiden voyage ceremony for the Coral-Sul floating liquefied natural gas plant, which is headed for Mozambique, at Samsung Heavy Industries' shipyard in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

By Kim Yeojin and Lee Jihae
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae's official Facebook page

President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 15 said, "LNG (liquefied natural gas) 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."

He said this at the shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, in the naming and maiden voyage ceremony for Coral-Sul floating LNG (FLNG) plant, which is headed for Mozambique.

The president, first lady Kim Jung-sook, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and first lady Isaura Nyusi attended the ceremony.

FLNG is a marine facility that mines natural gas as it floats on the ocean, converts the gas into LNG and stores it. Coral-Sul is the fourth facility of its kind and second largest in the world, measuring 432 m long, 66 m wide and 39 m high.

Korea Gas Corp. owns a 10% stake in the facility, which will annually produce and offload 3.4 million tons of LNG in the Area 4 gas field off the coast of northern Mozambique.

"It is all the more meaningful for me to welcome President Nyusi to Geojedo Island where I was born," President Moon said. "I hope cooperation between our two countries strengthens further, building upon our profound ties today, and becomes like the close relationship of hometown friends."

He added that "carbon-free energy like green hydrogen will take considerable time and effort."

"The LNG mass-produced by the Coral-Sul FLNG will also be of great help to the world on its journey to carbon neutrality."

He called Korea "the world's foremost shipbuilding powerhouse," adding, "Korea hopes to become the optimal cooperative partner in the project to build Mozambique’s large LNG carrier as well."

President Nyusi thanked Korea for sparing no support, adding that he will reaffirm his nation's backing for the recent development of inter-Korean dialogue and MIKTA, a partnership among Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia, and contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world.

President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 15 poses for a commemorative photo with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi at the naming and maiden voyage ceremony for Coral-Sul Floating LNG plant, which is headed for Mozambique, at the shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.