Freeport LNG Starts Commercial Operations

The Freeport LNG project in Texas has started commercial operation for its first liquefaction train (Train 1) on 8 December, project partners Jera and Osaka Gas said in a joint statement December 10.

Osaka Gas and Jera will respectively lift approximately 2.32mn metric tons/year of LNG.  The Japanese companies said that "through the procurement of LNG from the project, Osaka Gas and Jera will each secure LNG without destination restrictions, diversify their supply sources and price indices, and enhance the stability and flexibility of their LNG procurement."

Freeport LNG will be a fully-electric, three-train, 15mn mt/yr natural gas liquefaction and LNG export facility on Quintana Island in Texas. The project recently secured financing for a fourth train, which would bring its total output to 20m mt/yr.

US-based McDermott International, one member of the project EPC joint venture, in a separate statement, said that Freeport LNG Trains 2 and 3 remain on track to meet their previously announced schedules, with first liquid from Train 2 being announced on December 6 and Train 3 initial production of LNG scheduled for Q1 of 2020.