Another LNG Terminal Receives Approval To Export LNG To Non-FTA Nations

Updates

November 4, 2017: Cove Point should be up and running this week.

August 7, 2017: Cove Point construction is nearing completion; should be completed this year (2017). Another link:

Dominion Energy said work on the Cove Point LNG export facility near Lusby, Maryland is 95 percent complete and on track to start service in the fourth quarter of 2017.

All of the major equipment has been set in place with the focus now turning on commissioning activities, Dominion said in its July report.  

September 29, 2014: announced; FERC says Dominion can start construction of the Cove Point LNG-export terminal. 

Later, 7:26 pm CDT: Bloomberg News is reporting:

Dominion Resources Inc. (D), the third-largest U.S. utility owner, will form a master-limited partnership for natural gas assets next year that may generate as much as $2 billion annually in earnings. 

Initial holdings would include the Cove Point liquefied natural gas terminal in Maryland and Dominion’s stake in Blue Racer Midstream LLC, a joint venture in Ohio’s Utica Shale, Chief Executive Officer Thomas Farrell said today at a New York conference sponsored by Barclays Plc. (BARC) The partnership may generate as much as $1 billion of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization annually, he said.  

Original Post

Platts is reporting:

The US Department of Energy approved Dominion Cove Point LP’s application to export LNG from its terminal in Calvert County, Md., to countries that do not have a free-trade agreement with the US.

Dominion Cove Point is the fourth US LNG terminal to gain DOE approval of exports to non-FTA nations. Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, Freeport LNG Expansion LLC, and Lake Charles Exports LLC’s applications were approved earlier. DOE has another 19 non-FTA LNG export applications under review.

At this CarpeDiem graphic, one can see that Cove Point LNG is selling for less than $3 for one million BTUs; Asians and South Americans are paying as much as $15.

This additional comment I do not understand:

The installation previously received clearance to export LNG to non-FTA countries on Oct. 7, 2011, it noted.

Unless the original clearance had expired, or maybe I'm just missing something. Which would not be unusual.

The article said that the facility's capacity were fully subscribed; 20-year contracts were signed.