US LNG player New Fortress Energy is moving forward with plans to launch a 2.8 mtpa floating liquefaction facility offshore Lousiana in the first quarter of next year.
Wes Edens-led NFE revealed in March it had filed applications with the relevant authorities to request all necessary permits and regulatory approvals for the FLNG export project in the US Gulf of Mexico.
In an update on Tuesday, NFE said that the US Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime Administration, has affirmed the completeness of NFE’s deepwater port license application.
Moreover, it would now proceed with the preparation of an environmental impact statement as part of the environmental review within the 356-day application process, NFE said.
NFE’s application proposes the ownership, construction, operation, but also eventual decommissioning of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port, known as New Fortress Energy Louisiana FLNG.
The facility would sit in Federal waters about 16 nautical miles off the southeast coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 30 meters.
NFE said the deepwater port would allow for the export of about 145 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year, equivalent to some 2.8 million tons per annum of LNG.
“Significant step forward”
The company’s “Fast LNG” liquefaction design pairs the “latest advancements” in modular, midsize liquefaction technology with jack up rigs or similar offshore infrastructure.
Also, this enables a “much lower” cost and faster deployment schedule than today’s floating liquefaction vessels and onshore liquefaction terminals, NFE claims.
Subject to the receipt of all required permits and approvals, NFE targets beginning operations in the first quarter of 2023.
“This is a significant step forward for our effort to build the first Fast LNG facility in the United States,” said Wes Edens, Chairman and CEO of NFE.
In addition, “this project can help address the energy crisis in Europe and support our efforts to reduce energy poverty by providing more affordable, reliable and cleaner fuel to our growing portfolio of customers,” he said.