FERC Approves Sabine Pass LNG Export Project, Without Waiting for Meeting
Without even waiting for its agenda meeting April 19, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the first new major export terminal for liquified natural gas (LNG), it announced. The approval is for the Sabine Pass project by Cheniere Energy Partners. Several others are expected to seek FERC approval of similar export terminals, industry officials said.
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FERC said the approval will allow the export of 16 million tons of LNG per year. Export of LNG was approved by the Department of Energy Sept. 7, 2010 (DOE/FE Order N. 2833). The FERC approval came in a 56-page order issued late April 16, containing a total of 53 conditions.
The Sabine Pass terminal is to be operational in 2015, built on 853 acres along the Sabine Pass River, on the widest point of the Sabine River Navigation Channel, 3.7 miles from open water and 23 nautical miles from the outer buoy. (See ITT, [Ref. 12041611]).
FERC officials did not immediately say why the commission decided to act in advance of the April 19 meeting, which had the Sabine Pass approval on its public agenda.
FERC Vacates Order Authorizing Jordan Cove LNG Project
At the same time, FERC vacated, without prejudice, an order authorizing Jordan Cove Energy Project to build and operate an LNG import terminal in Coos County, Ore., and the related Pacific Connector pipeline (here). Jordan Cove had notified FERC on Feb. 29, 2012, that due to current market conditions it no longer intends to implement a Dec. 17, 2009, authorization to build the import terminal. In the same filing, Jordan Cove sought pre-filing status to explore the feasibility of a liquefaction export project that would be built and operated at the same site. FERC said Jordan Cove’s pre-filing application for export authorization will be considered in Docket No. PF12-7-000.