Venture Global receives permission from federal regulators to add natural gas to LNG plant

Documents show that federal regulators granted Venture Global LNG approval on Wednesday to introduce natural gases into its Plaquemines Export Plant in Louisiana. This allows the plant to move closer to producing supercooled gas.

When fully operational, the 20 million metric ton per annum (MTPA), Plaquemines LNG facility will be the second largest U.S. Export Facility. The plant and others due to begin next year will allow the United States to maintain its position as the largest gas exporter in the world.

Venture Global will become the second largest U.S. producer of LNG with a capacity to export more than 30 MTPA through its Calcasieu Pass facility and Plaquemines facility, both located in Louisiana.

Venture Global has declined to comment.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission wrote that the Arlington, Virginia, company could commission and introduce gas to its "fuel-gas and warm-flame" systems. The company can introduce gas into other parts of its facility, as long as it complies to the terms of the Wednesday's order.

Plaquemines should produce its first LNG within the next few weeks. Venture Global owns two vessels at the Mississippi River mouth, the Venture Gator, and Venture Bayou. These vessels could be used to receive any LNG produced by the plant. Reporting by Curtis Williams, Houston; editing by Chizu Nomiyama

(source: Reuters)