Plaquemines LNG Export Plant Gets Key Regulatory Approval

Federal regulators on Friday gave Venture Global LNG permission to begin preparations for the start-up of liquefied natural gas equipment at its Plaquemines export plant in Louisiana, taking a step closer to first LNG production for the facility, about 20 miles south of New Orleans.

A tanker containing LNG has been docked at Plaquemines with a cargo of chilled gas since late August, according to Venture Global LNG and data from financial firm LSEG. The cargo is expected to be used to cool equipment for initial operations.

Venture Global LNG has said it expects the first phase of the Plaquemines plant to begin LNG exports later this year. When in full operation, the up to 20 million tons per annum facility will become the second-largest single LNG facility in the U.S.

Energy analysts and traders said last week that Venture Global would use that LNG as part of the plant's testing and commissioning process.

LNG plants under construction, like Plaquemines, use super-cooled fuel to test and cool equipment in preparation for startup.

In addition to the tanker holding LNG for the startup, another LNG vessel, the Venture Gator, according to data from LSEG, was anchored in the Mississippi River near Plaquemines. Analysts said it was likely that vessel, which was listed as available for orders, would go to Plaquemines.

(Reuters - Reporting by Curtis Williams; Editing by David Gregorio)