https://www.naturalgasintel.com/freeport-lng-given-green-light-by-ferc-for-preliminary-restart-work/

BY?JACOB DICK

January 26, 2023

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Federal regulators have signed off on Freeport LNG Development LP’s request to begin cooling part of its transfer equipment, an early step to eventually restarting the 2.38 Bcf/d terminal.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission informed Freeport Thursday it would?grant its request?to begin cooling its Loop 1 liquefied natural gas transfer system after a series of inspections and consultation with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The company may now begin the 11-day process.

However, FERC’s Andrew Kohout, director of LNG facility review and inspection, wrote Freeport would need to submit daily reports and meet further review requirements before it has permission to restart the liquefaction trains and transfer LNG to one of its docks.

“Authorization will only be granted following the review of filed responses, a determination that the facilities are fit for service, and documentation that acceptable measures have been put into place to safely return the facilities to operation,” Kohout wrote.

In its request, Freeport asked that FERC quickly give the go ahead to complete the cooling process by early February. Because of the facility’s design, Freeport has said a restart of the terminal’s trains?would be incremental?and possibly take several weeks before reaching full capacity. The company previously reported work to repair and improve the facility was substantially completed in December.

The Texas facility has been idled since a?June explosion, which may have originated with the LNG transfer equipment between its storage area and dock.

Before being knocked offline, the plant had been providing roughly 15% of?U.S. LNG exports.