Freeport LNG’s unit, FLNG Liquefaction 4 filed a formal application with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization to build a fourth liquefaction train at its export facility located near Freeport, Texas.
Freeport LNG also said that it was commencing the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for Train 4.
The proposed Train is being designed with a nominal production capacity of 5.1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
The company expects to start construction of Train 4 by the end of 2018, with operations commencing in 2022.
“With today’s initiation of formal FERC review and commencement of FEED work, Freeport LNG is moving forward with the final stages of Train 4 development,” said Michael Smith , Chief Executive and the owner of Freeport LNG.
“Following closely on the heels of our successful development of the initial three trains of the Freeport Liquefaction Project, Train 4 will position Freeport LNG to supply the next wave of U.S. Gulf Coast LNG,” added Smith.
The initial three liquefaction trains of the Freeport liquefaction project are currently under construction, and are scheduled to commence operations sequentially between fourth quarter in 2018 and third quarter in 2019.
Each liquefaction train will have a capacity in excess of 5 mtpa.
About 13.4 mtpa of the production capacity from the first three liquefaction trains has been contracted under use-or-pay liquefaction tolling agreements with Osaka Gas, JERA, BP, Toshiba Corp. and SK E&S LNG.