Sempra Energy secures approval for LNG export plant in US

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved Sempra Energy’s proposal to construct an approximately $10bn liquefied natural gas export terminal in Louisiana.

The approval allows Sempra Energy’s subsidiary Cameron LNG to build and operate the natural gas liquefaction and export facility at the site of its LNG receipt terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana.

Construction work on the three-train liquefaction facility is expected to start later this year. The facility will have an export capability of 12 million tonnes per annum of LNG.

Sempra Energy chairman and CEO Debra Reed said that the approval is another important step in delivering natural gas to US trading partners abroad.

“This is a landmark project that will bring economic prosperity and create thousands of jobs in Louisiana,” Reed added.

Sempra LNG vice-president of commercial development and project leader for the Cameron LNG liquefaction project E Scott Chrisman said: “The liquefaction project is an international collaboration with our partners from Japan and France to create a world-class facility to deliver reliable LNG supplies for more than 20 years to some of the largest LNG buyers in the world.”

A subsidiary of Sempra Energy has also secured approval from the FERC to construct a 21-mile 42in natural gas pipeline expansion of the Cameron Interstate Pipeline. Plans include a new compressor station and ancillary equipment that will provide natural gas transportation for the liquefaction facilities.

Earlier this year, the US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded conditional approval to Cameron LNG to export LNG to non-free-trade-agreement countries, including Japan and European nations.

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Image: Construction work on the three-train liquefaction facility is expected to start later this year. Photo: courtesy of Sempra Energy.