Inside US$10 billion LNG compound that President Trump visited

The entrance to Cameron LNG Export Terminal in Hackberry, LA. Photo: Sutton Meagher

Cameron LNG is one of five LNG export projects Sempra Energy is developing in North America, includes the first three liquefaction trains that will enable the export of approximately 12 million tons per annum of LNG. Photo: Minh Tuan

Cameron LNG completed all major construction activities for Train 1 of the liquefaction-export project and began the commissioning and start-up process in November 2018. Train 1 of Phase 1 of the Cameron LNG export facility began commercial operations on August 19, 2019. Photo: Minh Tuan

A train is an assembly of equipment that transforms natural gas into LNG. The train is the heart of the liquefaction process, according to Jamie Gray, Cameron LNG Project Director. Photo: Minh Tuan

Cameron LNG is jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG, Total, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Japan LNG Investment, LLC, a company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK). Sempra Energy indirectly owns 50.2% of Cameron LNG while the three other offtakers own 16.6% each. Photo: Minh Tuan

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized the project in June 2014. It took the company two years to stabilize the foundation. Photo: Minh Tuan

Currently, Cameron LNG features 1 liquefaction train capable of 4 million tons per annum. The natural gas enters this unit, is cooled up to -260F. Its volume is reduced almost 600 times and loaded to export tankers. The produced LNG are stored in 3 storage tanks, with a capacity of some 160,000 cubic meters each. Photo: Minh Tuan

Jamie Gray, Cameron LNG Project Director, said that natural gas enters the terminals through pipeline networks, but purchase of gas is carried out by clients. Photo: Minh Tuan

In the first phase, two trains are expected to begin producing in 2020. Total capacity will reach 12 million tons. The trains operate independently Photo: Minh Tuan

Jamie Gray noted that this part of the project costs $10 billion. First LNG was produced in May 2019 and was visited by President Donald Trump. So far, the LNG has been transported to Europe, Asia and South America. LNG sale is carried out by carriers. Photo: Minh Tuan

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks on promoting energy infrastructure and economic growth Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the Cameron LNG Export Terminal in Hackberry, LA. Photo: Shealah Craighead/White House

President Donald J. Trump participates in a walking tour of Cameron LNG Export Terminal Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Hackberry, LA. Photo: Shealah Craighead/White House

In phase 2, Cameron LNG has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to add two additional liquefaction trains with the total capacity of 8 Mtpa and up to two additional full containment LNG storage tanks. However, no final investment decision was made yet. Photo: Shealah Craighead/White House

Director of External Affairs at the Sempra Energy Company J. C. Thomas said that LNG is clean and reliable energy.

“We know that it is an important attribute of LNG that you can really change the economy and the community by adding access to clean and affordable energy where it is not used as a political tool, or weapon,” says Director of External Affairs at the Sempra Energy Company J. C. Thomas.

Thomas noted that the strategic view of the company is to develop infrastructure and deliver cleaner, more favorable and reliable energy to the world. “Our goal is to export 45 million tons of clean natural gas to the world markets and become one of the largest LNG exporters in North America.”

Sempra LNG is developing the Port Arthur LNG liquefaction with 22 million tons per annum, which is in Southeast Texas and has a direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, and Energia Costa Azul (ECA) in Mexico with 14.4 million tons. Photo: Minh Tuan