Dominion Energy confirmed on Friday that the first LNG cargo from its Cove Point terminal in Maryland, the second US facility to produce LNG from shale gas, has departed the facility.
Shell’s 136,985-cbm LNG carrier Gemmata, carrying the first cargo of LNG from Cove Point produced for export, departed Thursday, March 1, Dominion said in its statement.
The $4 billion Cove Point facility is currently undergoing final commissioning.
“All major equipment has been operated and is being commissioned as expected following a comprehensive round of testing and quality assurance activities,” Dominion said.
Shell NA LNG is providing the natural gas needed for liquefaction during the commissioning process and is off-taking by ship the LNG that is produced.
When commissioning is complete, Dominion’s LNG export facility will produce the chilled fuel for ST Cove Point, the joint venture of Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas, and for India’s GAIL under 20-year contracts.
The liquefaction facility has a nameplate capacity of 5.25 mtpa of LNG.