An existing authorization to complete work on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant expires February 21, but the company has said its startup, or commissioning phase, will not be concluded until late this year.
Venture Global LNG wants FERC to either issue a one-year extension, or rule that the authorization has been met because the plant's liquefaction units are functioning, according to the request. It has said faulty power equipment have delayed the facility's commissioning.
Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tab opposes the extension request and called on Venture Global LNG to provide cargoes to it and others customers under existing contracts "no later than February 21, 2024, as FERC ordered five years ago," a spokesperson told Reuters.
Shell, BP PLC (BP.L), opens new tab, Galp (GALP.LS), opens new tab and others have complained that they have lost billions of dollars in sales because the export facility has supplied others while failing to provide their contract cargoes citing the ongoing commissioning.
"Calcasieu Pass has long been in commercial operation and has produced at or above nameplate capacity for more than a year, exporting LNG cargoes every three to five days, for a total of more than 250 cargoes worth billions of dollars," the Shell spokesperson said.
Venture Global LNG separately asked federal regulators to approve construction of its Calcasieu Pass 2 export plant at their meeting next month.
