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NorthAmOil PROJECTS & COMPANIES NorthAmOil
Freeport LNG again delays restart
TEXAS THE restart of Freeport LNG has again been anticipated to be finished by the end of Novem-
delayed, this time until the end of December. ber, the company said in a press release.
The facility was previously expected to have reo- Each of Freeport LNG’s three liquefaction
pened in mid-December. trains will be restarted and ramped up safely, in
Operations at the plant were suspended on a slow and deliberate manner, with each train
June 8 following an explosion and fire. The com- starting separately before restarting a subsequent
pany has several times set start-up dates and then train. It is expected that approximately 2bn cubic
missed them. feet (56.6mn cubic metres) per day of production
“Based upon current progress, and subject will be achieved in January 2023, the company
to us continuing to meet necessary regulatory said in November. Full production utilising
requirements, we now anticipate that the restart both docks remains anticipated to commence in
of our liquefaction facility will be achieved March 2023, said Freeport LNG last month.
around year end,” a Freeport LNG spokesperson, But a Rapidan Energy Group director, Alex
Heather Browne, told Reuters in an email. Munton, told Reuters that gas processing at Free-
Proposed remedial work activities for a safe port would likely not restart until the first quarter
restart of initial operations have been submitted of next year, “with longer delays possible”.
to the relevant regulatory agencies for review and In November, the US Pipeline and Hazard-
approval, the company said in mid-November. ous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
As of November 14, the reconstruction work issued a report on the June explosion saying that
necessary to begin initial operations, including the export terminal faced inadequate operating
use of all three liquefaction trains, two LNG stor- and testing procedures. Human error and fatigue
age tanks and one dock, had been approximately were also to blame, said the federal pipeline
90% complete, with all reconstruction work safety agency.
ENERGY TRANSITION
US EPA proposes higher
renewable fuel blending
US THE US Environmental Protection Agency rural economy and help reduce greenhouse gas
(EPA) has proposed expansions of obliga- [GHG] emissions.”
tions for refiners who must blend renewable Because the Energy Independence and Secu-
fuels into their gasoline. The new Renewable rity Act of 2007 (EISA) does not include volumes
Fuel Standard (RFS) would contain a higher after 2022, this is the first time that the EPA is
amount of renewable fuel blended from 2023 setting these proposed biofuel volume targets
until 2025. without using those outlined in statute.
Refiners, especially smaller ones, often object When setting biofuel volumes for years after
to the logistics of blending and the fact that they 2022, EPA considers a variety of factors specified
must pay for credits – or renewable identification in the statute, including costs, air quality, climate
numbers (RINs) – if they cannot blend enough change, implementation of the programme to
renewable fuel. date, energy security, infrastructure issues, com-
The renewable fuel obligation for 2023 would modity prices, and water quality and supply.
be 21.07bn gallons (including a supplemen- The EPA is seeking comment on the pro-
tal 250mn gallons because of a court ruling), posed volumes and how to appropriately balance
21.87bn gallons (82.8bn litres) for 2024 and these factors so that the programme works for
22.68bn gallons for 2025. renewable fuel growers and producers, refiners
“The Renewable Fuel Standard programme is and their workers, and fuel consumers.
critical to helping incorporate more homegrown The EPA is also seeking comment on how
biofuels into the market,” said the EPA’s admin- this rule can intersect with continued viability of
istrator, Michael Regan. “This proposal supports domestic oil refining assets, including merchant
low-carbon renewable fuels and seeks public refineries, how best to support novel fuels like
input on ways to strengthen the programme. sustainable aviation fuels and clean hydrogen,
We’re eager to continue the dialogue on how and how to account for the new and updated
biofuels can bolster US energy security, protect incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),
consumers from high fuel costs, strengthen the passed in mid-August.
Week 49 08•December•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9
