QUINTANA, TEXAS — After nearly half a decade of permitting, Freeport’s liquefied natural gas export facility broke ground early Monday afternoon.
But while about a dozen executives may have turned dirt in a ceremonial trough, actual work will have to wait until two more permits are finalized by government agencies. Freeport LNG Development LP CEO Michael Smith told the crowd that he expected the permits to be issued and construction to begin by Thanksgiving.
The first construction will build two liquefaction trains, which will cool natural gas until it becomes a liquid more suitable for shipping overseas. Houston-based Freeport LNG Development said it had closed on the more than $10 billion in financing needed to fund the two trains this past weekend.
Freeport has already contracted with five customers to liquefy more than 2 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas.
Now, the project is just waiting for the last go-ahead from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a final ruling from the United States Department of Energy.
Read more about the Freeport LNG project at HoustonChronicle.com.
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