FERC has granted Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC and Sabine Pass LNG LP permission to begin liquefaction and export activities from Train 2 at the Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Cameron Parish, LA.

Last month Cheniere told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that Train 2 was “substantially complete” and that commissioning had been finished (see Daily GPI, Sept. 16) [CP11-72; CP13-2].

Under a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Spain’s Gas Natural Fenosa LNG GOM Ltd. (GNF), the date of first commercial delivery for Train 2 is expected to occur in August 2017, upon which the SPA’s 20-year term begins. GNF has rights to early cargos prior to that date (see Daily GPI, Nov. 22, 2011).

Maintenance that has been ongoing at Sabine Pass appears to be coming to an end. Last Sunday at noon the Train 3 and 4 flares were re-ignited, according to industry consultant Genscape Inc. Delivery nominations resumed for gas days Sunday and Monday “of 5 MMcf/d in deliveries (going to this flare stack) after deliveries to Sabine went to zero on Sept. 20. Genscape’s proprietary monitors observed the Train 1 and 2 and Train 3 and 4 flares completely go out Sept. 24 and Sept. 17, respectively.

“Based on the resumed deliveries and the Train 3 and 4 flare re-ignition, it is expected that Train 3 could resume commissioning activities by Oct. 17 following the CEO’s mention of this being a four-week outage,” Genscape said. “As of now, Genscape anticipates that the modifications are on track to be completed within the stated four-week outage from the flares going out.”