US Regulator Creates LNG Division

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) said July 23 it will create a new division and open a regional office in Houston to deal with the growing number of applications to build and operate LNG export facilities.

The new Division of LNG Facility Review & Inspection (DLNG) will be part of the commission’s Office of Energy Projects and will consist of 20 existing Ferc staffers in Washington and eight additional staffers recruited from the Houston who will be based in the new Houston regional office.

“As the demand for US LNG and the number and complexity of project applications has grown, the commission has experienced a similar growth in the need for Ferc to expand its oversight in this program area,” commission chair Neil Chatterjee said. “Much of the work related to these LNG projects, and the expertise it requires, is based in and around Houston.”

In April 2018, Ferc had 13 staff dedicated to working on LNG engineering and review issues. That number now stands at 20, who help complete engineering reviews, co-ordinate safety reviews with the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation, and prepare engineering analyses for inclusion in environmental documents.

Postings seeking candidates for the Houston office, starting with the division director, will be made shortly, Ferc said.