Dominion celebrates construction of Cove Point liquefaction project

Dominion said it has celebrated with its international business partners and Maryland community leaders the construction of the Dominion Cove Point LNG liquefaction project.

Kenichiro Sasae, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joined Dominion Chairman Thomas F. Farrell II at the ceremony, along with Diane Leopold, president, Dominion Energy; Kazuhiro Takeuchi, president, CEO, and general manager for the Americas, Sumitomo Corp of Americas; Jayanta Sinha, president, GAIL Global U.S.A., and Steven R. Weems, president, Calvert County Board of County Commissioners.

“Cove Point will supply critical American allies in India and Japan with much-needed natural gas that will help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Farrell. “Although the doubters said it could not be done, in late 2017 our liquefier will be online, and ships will begin receiving LNG for export.”

The Dominion Cove Point Liquefaction Project is a $3.4 billion – $3.8 billion project that will create thousands of skilled construction jobs, 75 permanent jobs and an additional $40 million in annual tax revenue to Calvert County, Dominion said in a statement.

Construction-related activities started last October and operations are projected to begin in late 2017.

Dominion has fully subscribed the capacity of the project with 20-year service agreements with ST Cove Point, a joint venture of Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas of Japan; and GAIL Global (USA) LNG, a wholly owned indirect U.S. subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited.

When completed in late 2017, Cove Point will produce about 5.25 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually for the two customers. The LNG shipments from Cove Point are projected to reduce the U.S. trade imbalance by at least $2.8 billion, and possibly as much as $7.1 billion, annually, according to the statement.

Image: Dominion