Freeport LNG to launch third train commercial ops

The Freeport LNG export project in Texas led by billionaire Michael Smith is seeking from the US energy regulators to place its third and final train into commercial operation.

Freeport LNG said in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission it requests authorization to place the third train in-service by April 30, 2020.

The company says it has filed all documentation required by the regulator and the orders to demonstrate readiness for the third train to be placed into service.

Freeport LNG terminal started operations back in 2008 as an import facility and began LNG export operations from the first train in 2019.

Commercial operations for the second liquefaction train started in January this year.

The three trains will be able to produce about 15 million tones of LNG per year or some 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas.

Freeport LNG is also adding the fourth production unit with a capacity of five million tonnes per year.

The company previously said it expected to make a final investment decision on the fourth train this year.

Freeport LNG has contracts for about 13.4 mtpa of production capacity under 20-year use-or-pay liquefaction tolling agreements.

The LNG buyers are Osaka Gas, JERA, BP, Toshiba and Total.