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GLNG AMERICAS GLNG
EPA denies Cheniere request for
exemption from pollution rule
POLICY THE US Environmental Protection Agency the engineering and installation of pollution
(EPA) said this week that it had denied a request controls potentially taking years.
from LNG producer Cheniere Energy to exempt The company is the US’ largest exporter of
turbines at its two liquefaction terminals from a LNG, accounting for roughly 50% of all volumes
pollution rule. shipped. It is trying to position itself at the fore-
Owners and operators of gas turbines had front of US efforts to send more of the super-
a deadline of September 5 to comply with chilled fuel to Europe to help the continent phase
an amended rule under the National Emis- out imports of Russian gas.
sion Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants However, once the EPA’s decision was
(NESHAP). The rule imposes curbs on emis- announced, a Cheniere spokesperson, Eben
sions of known carcinogens such as formalde- Burnham-Snyder, was quoted by media as saying
hyde and benzene from stationary combustion that while it would likely result in “unwarranted
turbines, like those used in LNG terminals. expenditures”, it was not expected to limit LNG
Cheniere had asked the administration of exports or otherwise disrupt operations.
US President Joe Biden to exempt a particular “While we strongly disagree with EPA’s deci-
type of turbine that it has installed at its LNG sion, we will work with our state and federal
terminals from the NESHAP limits, arguing regulators to develop solutions that ensure com-
that compliance with the amended rule could pliance,” he was quoted as saying.
result in shipments of its LNG being reduced for Cheniere was the only LNG producer to ask
an extended period. It said the model of turbine the EPA for an exemption from the amended
was the most suitable for withstanding the kind rule.
of storms the US Gulf Coast is vulnerable to, and
that it would be particularly hard to retrofit, with
P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 37 16•September•2022
