Shell to become first major US LNG exporter

摘要

Shell’s planned takeover of the UK’s BG will allow it to become the first major exporter of US LNG and give it rights to four North American LNG export projects that have not reached final investment decisions (FIDs). BG has signed 20-year contracts for up to 5.5mn t/yr of LNG, equivalent to 7.8bn m~3/yr of natural gas, from the Sabine Pass LNG export project that is being built in Louisiana. The majority of this supply, or 3.5mn t/yr, will come from the plant’s first train, which is scheduled to send out its first test cargo late this year and start commercial operations in February 2016. Shell will pay the lowest liquefaction charge of any US exporter for this capacity - BG secured a rate of $2.25/ mn Btu from Sabine Pass owner US firm Cheniere Energy, in exchange for taking the risk to sign the first long-term US liquefaction capacity deal.