The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved the construction of the Train 4 expansion at the Freeport LNG terminal in Texas.
Today’s action marks the Commission’s fourth approval of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project this year, following last month’s approval of the Driftwood and Port Arthur projects, and February’s approval of the Venture Global Calcasieu Pass project.
“I’m proud of the efforts by the Commission and its staff to process today’s and our previous LNG orders,” FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee said. “Exporting LNG from the United States can help increase the availability of inexpensive, clean-burning fuel to our global allies who are looking for an efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly source of generation.”
The Train 4 project is an expansion of the liquefaction project currently under construction at the Freeport LNG terminal. It involves construction of a liquefaction unit similar to Freeport’s other three units at the site, as well as associated pipelines, storage vessels and related facilities. The project will allow the applicant to liquefy for export the equivalent of an additional 0.74 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the site.
About the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects.
About Freeport LNG
Freeport LNG Development, L.P. is constructing a natural gas liquefaction and LNG export facility on Quintana Island near Freeport, Texas, about 70 miles south of Houston.
After its completion in 2019, the three-train facility will produce and export some 15 mtpa of LNG, with production units starting sequentially between Q4 2018 (Train 1) and Q3 2019 (Train 3). In the meantime, Freeport LNG is planning to add a fourth liquefaction unit to the three already under construction. This expansion will allow for the export of an additional five million tons of LNG per year, increasing the total export capability of the project to over 20 mtpa of LNG.