Golden Pass seeks to boost capacity at LNG export plant in Texas

Chiyoda

01/06/2020 20:44

June 1 (Reuters) - Golden Pass LNG sought permission from
U.S. federal energy regulators to boost the capacity of the
company's $10 billion export terminal under construction in
Texas to 18.1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from 15.6 MTPA.
    Golden Pass, which filed its request with the U.S. Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week, said on Monday
that the increase "does not involve any equipment changes or
environmental permit adjustments."
    The company said it would achieve the addition by
"production efficiencies."
    "Because the capacity increase does not involve additions or
adjustments to the permitted facilities, it would not result in
any construction or environmental impacts beyond those
previously identified" by FERC, Golden Pass said.
     The company started building the three-train project in
mid-2019 and said it remains on schedule to start the first
liquefaction train in 2024 with Train 2 expected to follow
six-to-eight months later, and Train 3 six-to-eight months after
that.
    If FERC approves the increase, each train will be capable of
producing a little over 6 MTPA of LNG or 0.79 billion cubic feet
per day (bcfd) of natural gas. One billion cubic feet is enough
gas for about 5 million U.S. homes for a day.
    Golden Pass is owned by units of U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil
Corp  XOM.N  (30%) and Qatar Petroleum  QATPE.UL  (70%), the
world's biggest LNG exporter.
    Units of McDermott International Inc  MDIRQ.PK , Chiyoda
Corp  6366.T  and Zachry Group are building the project.
    Including projects under construction, U.S. LNG export
capacity is expected to rise to 10.0 bcfd by the end of 2020 and
10.7 bcfd by the end of 2021 from 9.9 bcfd now.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2D028O
    That keeps the United States on track to become the world's
biggest LNG exporter in 2024 when Golden Pass enters service. It
became the third-biggest LNG exporter in 2019, behind Qatar and
Australia.

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GRAPHIC-Expansion of global LNG gasification and regasification
capacity    http://tmsnrt.rs/2mtY5CY
GRAPHIC-Growing global natural gas demand    http://tmsnrt.rs/2mtP90z
FACTBOX-North American liquefied natural gas export projects   
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 (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Tom Brown)
 ((scott.disavino@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646 223-6072; Reuters
Messaging: scott.disavino.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))