A roundup of news and commentary from NGI’s LNG Insight

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has cleared Freeport LNG Development LP to introduce feed gas to Train 3 for commissioning and cool down. It also has granted permission to cool down the main rundown line that extends from the liquefaction trains to the liquefied natural gas tank area. 
  • The authorizations are the latest as the 2 Bcf/d facility works to restart after a June 8 explosion and fire that knocked it offline. Freeport already has cooled down its Loop 1 transfer piping so it can move LNG to one of its docks and has reinstated boil-off gas management at the facility. It is also awaiting approval to load LNG ships from one of its docks.
  • The work it has completed and the latest approvals put the facility on track to restart operations as early as February, but many analysts continue to project a March restart.
  • Construction has started on a 105-mile natural gas pipeline connecting Bulgaria and Serbia aimed at reducing the region’s dependence on Russian supplies. 
  • The European Commission (EC) said this week that work has started on the 38.5-mile Bulgarian stretch of the interconnector Bulgaria-Serbia.
  • The system would have the capacity to move 1.8 billion cubic meters (63.5 Bcf) annually from Bulgaria to Serbia. It would also have reverse flow capability. The EC said the system would help provide alternative supply routes in Southeast Europe as well.