Elba liquefaction project construction to kick off November 1

Kinder Morgan’s units Elba Liquefaction Company and Southern LNG Company will begin the construction of the Elba liquefaction project on November 1. 

The $2 billion project has received the authorization from the United States Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission in June.

Following the approval, the Sierra Club and associated individuals filed requests for rehearing that are currently pending before FERC, Kinder Morgan said in a statement.

Despite the rehearing requests, Kinder Morgan said the construction of the proposed 2.5 mtpa project will begin on November 1.

The project will be constructed and operated at the existing Elba Island LNG terminal near Savannah, Georgia.

Initial liquefaction units are expected to be placed in service in mid-2018, with final units coming on line by early 2019, Kinder Morgan said, adding that the project is supported by a 20-year contract with Shell.

In 2012, the Elba liquefaction project received authorization from the Department of Energy to export to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries. An application to export to non-FTA countries is pending, but is not required for the project to move ahead.