LNG

An investigation is under way into the explosion at the Freeport liquefied natural gas export plant at Quintana Island in Texas that could reduce US Gulf Coast cargo shipments for up to three weeks, though the overall damage was now said to be limited.

Texas LNG Brownsville, the mid-scale export plant proposed by industry veterans Vivek Chandra and Langtry Meyer, has been handed a ruling by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that it would issue an air permit allowing the construction and operation of the liquefaction facility.

The project is one of three being developed around the South Texas port and will be built on a 625-acre site located on the Port of Brownsville's deepwater ship channel near plentiful natural gas supplies and pipelines.

Texas LNG plans to ship 4 million tonnes per annum of cargoes to established and emerging markets.

“We appreciate the hard work and effort from TCEQ and are pleased to have reached this important achievement that paves the way for a 2021 final investment decision and construction of an LNG facility consistent with all air emission regulations,” said the project’s joint founder Chandra who is Chief Executive.

“Though current LNG markets are unusual in terms of pricing and supply dynamics, Texas LNG is confident that its low-cost, flexible commercial model, and realistically-sized production volumes will be key differentiators, ideally suited for global customers when operations begin in 2025,” explained the CEO.

The other two projects planned for the Brownsville Ship Channel area are Rio Grande LNG run by Houston-based NextDecade Corp. and Annova LNG whose backers include Chicago-based power company Exelon Corp.

The Rio Grande venture plans to produce 27 MTPA while Annova is aiming for 6.95 MTPA.

Langtry Meyer, the other co-founder of Texas LNG Brownsville and who is Chief Operating Officer said his company was committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner.

“This includes the use of electric motors instead of conventional gas turbine compressors to minimize air emissions, making the facility one of the world’s cleanest LNG liquefaction plants,” Meyer explained.

“By delivering clean, safe, low-cost Texas natural gas energy to our customers around the world, Texas LNG can contribute to a cleaner global environment,” he stated.

The TCEQ air permit adds to the November 2019 authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to proceed with the project.

Other permits received include one from Department of Energy to export US-sourced LNG to any country with which trade is not prohibited by federal law or policy.

Texas LNG will aim to source low cost and abundant Permian Basin feed gas using third-party pipeline infrastructure and an efficient modular construction design for the plant.

Annova LNG, the medium-scale US project planned for the south bank of the Brownsville Ship Channel in Texas, and whose owners include Chicago-based power company Exelon Corp., has received one of its final permits to begin construction.

Dec 13 (LNGJ) - NextDecade Corp., the developer of the Rio Grande LNG export plant proposed for near the port of Brownsville, said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality voted to issue a series of air permits to the venture with plans to produce 27 million tonnes per annum of LNG. “We appreciate the TCEQ’s commitment to the review of our project to deliver a safe and reliable LNG facility,” said Matt Schatzman, NextDecade’s President and Chief Executive. “We look forward to bringing thousands of jobs to the Rio Grande Valley and communities throughout the State of Texas, and to facilitating access to clean-burning, US-produced natural gas for our customers around the world,” added Schatzman. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plans to issue a final Environmental Impact Statement for Rio Grande LNG by the end of April 2019. NextDecade anticipates making a final investment decision in the third quarter of 2019.