Oregon LNG, one of two US export project in the US Northwest, said it filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking the necessary approvals and also planned to export pipeline gas from Canada as LNG cargoes.
The Oregon LNG project, which plans to invest an initial $6.3 billion, is based in the town of Warrenton and will compete with the nearby and further advanced Jordan Cove LNG project.
The Oregon project, being developed by Leucadia National Corp., a holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, plans to construct and operate a bi-directional LNG terminal with both import and export capability.
The venture will also include an affiliated interstate natural gas pipeline that will interconnect with and bolster the capacity of existing pipeline facilities, and would enable the shipment of natural gas produced in Canada and already earmarked for export.
The project will directly compete for cheap pipeline gas with half-a-dozen Canadian LNG export projects being developed across the border, north of Vancouver, and on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia.
"In addition to facilitating the delivery of natural gas supplies to isolated coastal communities as well as trading partners worldwide, the bi-directional project would also support the emerging conversion to cleaner burning natural gas for trucks, railroads, barges, ferries, and ocean going vessels," Oregon LNG said.
The FERC filing follows more than eight years of environmental studies and over 250 meetings with local, state, federal, and tribal agencies.
Oregon LNG's FERC application must still undergo additional environmental review and win approval.
Additionally, the project must comply with all applicable permitting requirements and regulations in order to be implemented.
"This new pipeline route reflects significant modification from the originally proposed route, and reduces impacts to environmentally sensitive lands as well as the number of private land owners impacted," the project said.
".If constructed, the project will represent the largest privately funded development in Oregon's history.
"The project is anticipated to result in $6.3 billion in direct spending during construction, providing the state with high-value jobs and tax revenues," the developers stated.
