Eni SpA is moving forward with plans to increase natural gas exports from the Republic of Congo with a second floating LNG (FLNG) terminal provided by Wison Heavy Industry Co. Ltd.

The Italian supermajor disclosed a contract Thursday with the unit of Shanghai-based Wison to construct and install a 2.4 million metric tons/year (mmty) capacity unit in the offshore Marine XII block. Eni said preliminary work has already begun and liquefied natural gas production is expected sometime next year.

In a statement, Eni representatives said an additional FLNG unit in the block and increased LNG production is a part of its “strategy to leverage gas equity,” by bringing more of its available gas resources to market.

The second unit could join Tango FLNG, a 0.6 mmty unit acquired from...