Page 11 - GLNG Week 48 2022

GLNG COMMENTARY GLNG

Sempra’s planned liquefaction capacity expan- a series of new agreements over the past few
sions going ahead after all. months that are helping the project to advance.
This was followed by another HoA that Sem- However, the scheme has run into various delays,
pra signed with Williams in mid-November this hence the request for a further extension. Delfin
year, which also paves the way for SPAs covering is aiming for an FID on the project’s first vessel
a combined 3mn tpy of LNG from Port Arthur by the end of the year.
and Cameron Phase 2.
What next?
Steps forward The expectation is that US liquefaction capacity
Uniper’s announcement does not seem to be a will continue to grow. Indeed, in a new report,
sign of immediate changes in the pipeline for consultancy Wood Mackenzie said that as a
Israel’s largest gas field. result of rising demand, US LNG exports were
Port Arthur LNG is not the only project to expected to nearly triple over the next decade.
take steps forward recently, though other pro- “As Europe diversifies to more secure sup-
jects have further to go in order to reach FID. ply sources and international buyers across the
On November 17, Commonwealth LNG globe seek reliable low-cost supply, North Amer-
received its regulatory approval from the US ica is poised to deliver,” said Wood Mackenzie’s
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) director for Americas gas and LNG research,
– the first such approval to be granted to a new Dulles Wang.
LNG project in more than two years. The consultancy estimates that the US cur-
US federal law currently requires that LNG rently exports around 11bn cubic feet (312mn
terminals be approved unless they are seen as cubic metres) per day of LNG. By 2033, it expects
going against public interest. And the US’ will- this figure to rise to 29 bcf (821 mcm) per day.
ingness to help Europe with its energy crisis and The US is estimated to have been the world’s
its efforts to reduce dependence on Russia means leading LNG exporter in the first half of 2022.
that new LNG project applications are currently While Qatar is working to expand its liquefac-
well-placed to be expedited and approved. tion capacity and regain the top spot, the US
Also in November, the FERC granted Delfin looks increasingly likely to continue being a
LNG an extension to build its planned floating major player in the global LNG market as secu-
LNG (FLNG) project offshore Louisiana. Delfin rity of supply and diversification remain in the
has also benefited from recent events, signing spotlight.™

Week 48 01•December•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11