FERC staff let Venture Global start Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 service
- Approval limited to Phase 1 facilities at the LNG terminal
- Staff found facilities built to approved standards, letter says
- Other terminal facilities still need separate authorizations
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - W.carterWASHINGTON, Oct 15 — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Office of Energy Projects on Oct 15 granted Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC's request to place Plaquemines LNG Phase 1 facilities in service under Docket No. CP17-66-000.
Andrew Kohout, director of FERC's Division of LNG Facility Reviews & Inspections, granted the company's Oct 1, 2026 request in a letter. The letter says the request is consistent with Conditions 12 and 120-124 of the Commission's Sept 30, 2019 Order Granting Authorizations Under Sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
The letter says the approval was based on commissioning progress shown in required weekly reports, meetings and periodic site inspections, and on information filed on Oct 1, 2026.
According to the letter, Venture Global showed through Commission staff inspections and review that the facilities "have been constructed in accordance with Commission approval and applicable standards and can be expected to operate safely and reliably as designed."
Kohout also wrote that the company has adequately stabilized the areas disturbed by construction and that restoration of the affected areas is proceeding satisfactorily.
The approval does not authorize Venture Global to place other project facilities at the LNG terminal into service, the letter says. It says further authorizations will be released once the company has shown full compliance with the conditions of the order.