US energy regulator approves LNG terminals at Port of Brownsville

Three LNG companies are set to establish their LNG export facilities at the Port of Brownsville in Texas, US, with a total investment of $38.75bn.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted permission to Texas LNG, NextDecade, and Annova LNG to go ahead with the planned construction of the LNG export facilities at the port.

Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed said: “Today’s announcement is another significant milestone in making these energy projects a reality and is the result of years of hard work by the applicants.

“These new energy projects reflect our long-term strategy and vision for the port to be a catalyst for economic growth in the Rio Grande Valley by encouraging domestic and international business investments and driving developments that create new good-paying job opportunities for the region.”

The companies are now required to submit their final investment decisions (FID) by the first quarter of 2020.

Applicants can start constructing LNG export facilities once they submit FIDs. In addition to offering economic benefits to the region, the LNG projects are expected to create a number of jobs.

Last year, over 51,000 jobs in Texas were directly or indirectly supported by the various business activities at the Port of Brownsville. After investing heavily in the infrastructure, the port has emerged as a hub for more than 200 companies.

Port of Brownsville director and CEO Eduardo Campirano said: “The fact that the Port of Brownsville was sought out and chosen for these three LNG projects is a testament to our strategic location and Brownsville’s important role in both the energy industry and international trade.

“FERC’s confidence in these projects, demonstrated by today’s approval is very important. The federal commission’s evaluation process ensures that the plants must operate within the design parameters for safety and environmental protection.”

In April, NextDecade signed an agreement with the Brownsville Navigation District to finance the deepening of the Brownsville Ship Channel in Texas.