US DoE grants export authorisation for Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project

US Department of Energy (DoE) has issued final authorisation to Cheniere Energy for the export of Liquefied Natural Gas from its Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project in Texas.

The authorisation allows export of LNG from domestic reserves to countries which have not signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.

The project will now be able to export up to 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas from the site for next 20 years.

As per the Natural Gas Act, export of gas to non FTA signatory countries requires authorisation and during the review the agency found that it is consistent with public interest and provide economic benefit to the country.

DOE however said that the proposed export should be done at a volumetric rate and not to exceed the capacity of the facilities.

Following the approval, Cheniere Energy has announced final investment decision and asked Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals to build first two natural gas liquefaction trains out of three trains planned to be built at the facility.

Cheniere chairman and CEO Charif Souki said: "We have initiated construction on our second LNG export facility, the Corpus Christi liquefaction project, located on the Coastal Bend of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.

"Including our LNG export facility at Sabine Pass, we now have six trains under construction, with first LNG expected at Sabine Pass from Train 1 by year end."

Corpus Christi Liquefaction project is designed for approximately 13.5 million tonnes per annum and features three LNG storage tanks with capacity of approximately 10.1 Bcfe, two LNG carrier docks and a 22-mile gas pipeline.

First train from the facility is scheduled to commence operation in 2018 while second train is expected to start operations six to nine months later.

Cheniere Energy is investing about $11.5bn in the first two trains, two LNG storage tanks, one dock and the natural gas supply pipeline.

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Image: Bechtel is the EPC contractor for the Corpus Christi Liquefaction project. Photo: courtesy of Bechtel Corporation.