Polish Oil & Gas Co. (PGNiG), one of Central Europe’s leading utilities, has signed binding contracts with subsidiaries of Venture Global LNG to take exports over 20 years from proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects that would be sited in Louisiana and Texas. PGNiG said it will buy 2 million metric tons/year of LNG from Venture’s two planned Louisiana projects — Calcasieu Pass, set to ramp up in 2022, and Plaquemines LNG, set for 2023 start up. The LNG price would be based on the Henry Hub index, along with liquefaction costs, PGNiG said. The contracts are the result of an agreement completed in June at the World Gas Conference in Washington, DC.

The U.S. Department of Transportation‘s (DOT) Office of Inspector General said it will begin an audit of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) oversight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Objectives of the “self-initiated” audit are to assess PHMSA’s oversight of LNG facility operators’ compliance with federal regulations, and states that conduct inspections of LNG facilities, according to DOT.