Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE MKT: LNG) and Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) hailed the commencement of their 20-year Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to supply U.S.-sourced LNG to KOGAS from the Sabine Pass Liquefaction facility in Louisiana. The SPA, which was originally signed in January of 2012, officially commenced on June 1, 2017, with the first cargo loading the following day.
Under the terms of the SPA, Cheniere shall sell and make available for delivery to KOGAS approximately 3.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, which represents more than 10 percent of South Korea's total annual demand.
Cheniere officials, led by CEO and President Jack Fusco, hosted KOGAS officials, led by CEO Seung-Hoon Lee, today at Cheniere's Sabine Pass Liquefaction facility.
"KOGAS is an ideal commercial partner as one of the largest buyers of LNG in the world and serves South Korea, an important economic and national ally of the United States," said Jack Fusco, President and CEO of Cheniere. "This is just the beginning of a long and productive relationship that will be beneficial to both companies and both countries, and we hope to continue to grow this relationship between KOGAS and Cheniere."
KOGAS president & CEO Mr. Seung-Hoon Lee said, "This long-term LNG SPA with Cheniere Energy will contribute significantly to improving the trade balance between the United States and Korea. Plus, the destination-free US LNG will greatly increase the flexibility and efficiency in the global LNG market."
KOGAS was incorporated by the Korean government in 1983 to engage in the development, production and distribution of liquefied natural gas. KOGAS has since grown to become one of the largest buyers of LNG and is the Republic of Korea's dominant gas provider. KOGAS operates four LNG terminals with the current storage capacity of 4.84 million tons in 69 storage tanks and a nationwide pipeline network that spans over 4,672 km. KOGAS imports LNG from around the world and supplies it to power generation plants, gas-utility companies and city gas companies throughout the country. It produces and supplies natural gas, purifies and sells gas-related by-products, builds and operates production facilities and distribution networks, and explores for, imports and exports natural gas for domestic and overseas markets.
In February 2016, Cheniere became the first company to ship LNG from the contiguous United States in over 50 years, and is currently the only exporter of U.S. LNG. Cheniere's unique business model provides a full-service LNG offering to customers worldwide, which includes acquiring, transporting, and processing pipeline gas, and providing LNG to customers either at the flange of the LNG terminal, or on a delivered basis to markets around the world.
About Cheniere Partners
Cheniere Partners (NYSE MKT: CQP), through its subsidiary, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC ("SPL"), is developing, constructing and operating natural gas liquefaction facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities. Cheniere Partners, through SPL, plans to construct over time up to six liquefaction trains, which are in various stages of development, construction and operations. Trains 1, 2, and 3 have achieved Substantial Completion, Train 4 is in the commissioning process, Train 5 is under construction, and Train 6 is fully permitted and being commercialized. Each liquefaction train is expected to have a nominal production capacity, which is prior to adjusting for planned maintenance, production reliability and potential overdesign, of approximately 4.5 million tonnes per annum ("mtpa") of LNG. SPL has entered into six third-party LNG SPAs that in the aggregate equate to approximately 19.75 mtpa of LNG and commence with DFCD of Trains 1 through 5 as specified in the respective SPAs. For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About Kogas
KOGAS (Korea Gas Corporation), was incorporated by the Korean government in 1983. Since its founding, it has grown to become the world's largest LNG importer. As the nation's sole LNG provider, the Corporation is fully committed to providing clean, safe and convenient energy to the people of Korea. In keeping with this mission, KOGAS currently operates four LNG terminals and a nationwide pipeline network spanning over 4,672km in order to ensure stable supply for the nation.
KOGAS imports LNG from around the world and supplies it to power generation plants, gas-utility companies and city gas companies throughout the country. It produces and supplies natural gas, purifies and sells gas-related by-products, builds and operates production facilities and distribution network, and explores, imports and exports natural gas for domestic and overseas markets.