LNG Race Heats Up in North America

Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The race continues for North American exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as Australian energy company Woodside celebrates progress on a facility in Louisiana, just as the Canadian government greenlights a new project for British Columbia.

Woodside Energy (Perth, Australia) said work on its first three liquefaction units, or trains, was nearly 25% completed, just a few short months after making its final investment decision on the project in April.

"The project is a game-changer for Woodside, marking our biggest-ever investment in the U.S. and representing the largest foreign direct investment in Louisiana's history," said Meg O'Neill, the company's chief executive officer. "It positions Woodside as a global LNG powerhouse and will deliver enduring returns to shareholders."

Woodside said it expects to produce its first batch of LNG by 2029, drawing on three initial liquefaction units, or trains, with a combined capacity of 16.5 million metric tons per annum (MTPA). Two more trains will eventually bring the capacity to 27.6 MTPA.

Woodside renamed the facility after it completed its buyout of LNG developer Tellurian Incorporated in October. It previously had been named Driftwood LNG.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Project and Plant databases can learn more about Louisiana LNG from a detailed project report and plant profile.

Once online, Louisiana LNG will help ensure the U.S. remains the top exporter of super-cooled gas in the world. The U.S. moved to the top of the heap during former President Joe Biden's tenure, a time that saw Europe hungry for more gas due to sanctions on Russia. President Donald Trump, by way of executive orders, is eager for more, with his administration signing off on a handful of projects since his return to office in January.

Most of the U.S. export capacity for LNG is centered along the Gulf Coast, with Louisiana LNG joining other major facilities, such as Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Subscribers can learn more about Calcasieu Pass from a detailed plant profile.

But while some of those facilities have offtake agreements with Asian customers, there are few export options along the western shores of North America, where voyages to import-dependent Japan and other nations are far shorter.

Trump dusted off the Alaska LNG facility, though it's not yet under construction. Canada, however, has something of a head start with facilities in British Columbia; it's already delivering LNG from the LNG Canada facility in British Columbia, with Prime Minister Mark Carney classifying an expansion project as one of national interest.

On Monday, the Canadian government gave its blessing to the Ksi Lisims LNG facility in British Columbia. The facility, located on a site owned by the aboriginal Nisga'a Nation, will have a capacity of 12 MTPA, with much of it destined for markets in the Pacific region. Subscribers can learn more about Ksi Lisims from a detailed project report and plant profile.

The federal decision is part of a broader effort to build up domestic infrastructure. Since Trump returned to office, bilateral ties have soured considerably, with policies upending trade. Most of the Canadian trade corridors for energy are isolated to North America, though Carney's administration is on a push for diversity.

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