FERC wants help on LNG applications with staff 'stretched to the max'
A member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission launched a series of posts on social media to make a public plea for resources that would allow the agency to process more applications for U.S. LNG export projects. Commissioner Neil Chatterjee made his case in a string of tweets late in the day July 2. He said the commission had done a good job moving forward pipeline projects that will provide significant new transportation capacity, much of that accomplished after FERC regained a voting quorum in 2017 when Chatterjee served as interim FERC chairman. "But there are some areas where we can and should do better — specifically our review of LNG export terminal applications," he tweeted. "We need more resources!"
Cheniere applies to expand Corpus Christi project with 7 midscale LNG trains
Cheniere Energy Inc. companies asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve an expansion totaling 11.45 million tonnes per annum at their Corpus Christi natural gas liquefaction and export project in Texas. Presenting the third stage of the LNG project, Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline LP, Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC and Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III LLC submitted an application June 28 for seven additional midscale liquefaction trains and one LNG storage tank at the under-construction facility. The trains would each have a nameplate capacity of 1.36 mtpa and maximum capacity of 1.64 mtpa.
Cheniere reaches nonbinding LNG purchase agreement with Taiwanese company
Cheniere Energy Inc. struck a nonbinding deal with the state-owned energy company CPC Corp. Taiwan for LNG supply of 2 million tonnes per annum for 25 years. CPC and Cheniere intend to continue negotiations toward a final deal.
Report: Alaska to launch equity offering, willing to create JV for Alaska LNG
The state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corp. plans to launch an equity offering this summer and is willing to collaborate with international energy firms to develop its Alaska LNG pipeline and export terminal project, Reuters reported June 28. Alaska Gasline Development has engaged Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and the Bank of China Ltd. to assemble the equity package.
Cheniere boosts working capital facility to $1.2B for Corpus Christi LNG project
Cheniere Energy Inc.'s subsidiary Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC reached an agreement with its lenders to amend its working capital facility to raise the total committed amount from $850 million to $1.2 billion. Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings would use loans drawn from the facility for the development and operation of the Corpus Christi natural gas liquefaction and export project and related gas pipeline in Texas.
US gas demand increases amid higher residential, industrial gas consumption
Natural gas demand in the U.S. increased slightly in the week that ended June 27, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its June 28 "Natural Gas Weekly Update." Six LNG vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 21.7 Bcf left the U.S. between June 21 and June 27. All of the tankers left from Cheniere Energy Inc.'s Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. One tanker with a capacity of 3.6 Bcf was loading at Sabine Pass on June 27. Average daily pipeline deliveries to LNG export terminals for the week increased by about 300 MMcf/d, averaging 3.6 Bcf/d, according to the EIA.