Venture Global exports first LNG batch from Calcasieu Pass
US LNG developer Venture Global LNG said March 1 it had completed the loading and departure of the first LNG produced from its Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility in Cameron, Louisiana.
The buyer is Japanese energy utility and trading firm JERA, which has been looking to improve security of gas supplies to Japan, having pumped an additional $2.5bn investment in Texas-based Freeport LNG, expanding its stake to 50% from 25.7% previously.
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The shipment means Calcasieu Pass has taken the global record for the quickest delivery of a large-scale greenfield LNG facility, Venture Global said, having moved from a final investment decision to production in 29 months.
"Venture Global is honoured to partner with JERA, one of the world's largest buyers of LNG, on the inaugural commissioning cargo from Calcasieu Pass," Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said.
Calcasieu LNG started development in 2019 and has since completed a multi-billion dollar investment to put into place greenfield infrastructure, equipment and labour, the latter opening skilled employment for markets in the southwestern US.
The project will export 10mn metric tons/year of LNG once operational. Situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico on the Calcasieu ship channel, the facility benefits from access to Far Eastern markets through the Panama Canal. It is served by multiple natural gas pipelines from major North American basins.
China's largest LNG importer CNOOC Gas & Power executed a 20-year sales and purchase agreement with Venture Global in December, marking its first commitment for LNG supplies from a US supplier. It will receive 1.5mn mt/yr of LNG from Calcasieu Pass on a short term basis, and also has a contract for supplies from Venture Global's second Louisiana export project, the 20mn mt/yr Plaquemines LNG facility.
Demand for Venture Global's LNG has enabled the company to secure supply of feedstock through additional channels. Two interstate pipelines serving Calcasieu Pass were brought online last year including Enbridge's 750,000 dekatherms/day Cameron pipeline, which delivers 50,000 Dth/d to the terminal under a firm capacity contract.