USA: Cheniere, Gas Natural Fenosa Ink LNG Deal

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. announced that its subsidiary, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, has entered into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Gas Natural Aprovisionamientos, a subsidiary of Gas Natural Fenosa, under which Gas Natural Fenosa has agreed to purchase 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG.

Sabine Liquefaction is developing liquefaction capabilities to produce 9.0 mtpa of LNG in the first phase of its project at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal owned by Cheniere Partners.  This contract with Gas Natural Fenosa is another milestone for the project as Sabine Liquefaction has now reached its contract capacity target of 7.0 mtpa, which is expected to support the construction of the first two trains.

Under the agreement, Gas Natural Fenosa will pay Sabine Liquefaction a fixed sales charge for the full annual contract quantity and will also pay a contract sales price for LNG purchases based on the applicable Henry Hub index traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.  LNG will be loaded onto Gas Natural Fenosa’s vessels.  The SPA has a term of twenty years commencing upon the date of first commercial delivery, and an extension option of up to ten years.  LNG deliveries are expected to commence in 2016.  The SPA is subject to certain conditions precedent, including but not limited to Sabine Liquefaction’s receiving regulatory approvals, securing necessary financing arrangements and making a final investment decision to construct the liquefaction facilities.

“We welcome Gas Natural Fenosa as the next foundation customer for our Sabine Pass liquefaction project.  Gas Natural Fenosa is a leading, integrated natural gas and power utility and a significant participant in the natural gas and LNG markets,” said Charif Souki, Chairman and CEO.  “With this agreement and the previously announced agreement with BG Gulf Coast, LLC, we have reached our contract capacity target for the first phase of our project.  We will now proceed towards making a final investment decision in order to start construction on the first two liquefaction trains in early 2012.”

Gas Natural Fenosa is one of the leading multinational companies in the gas and electricity sector.  The company operates in more than 25 countries, has more than 20 million customers and has 15.8 GW of installed power. It is the largest integrated gas and electricity company in Spain and Latin America, leading the natural gas sales market in the Iberian Peninsula, and it is the biggest distributor of natural gas in Latin America.  With a fleet of 10 LNG tankers, it is a company of reference for LNG/NG in the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins, where it operates 30 bcm.

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LNG World News Staff, November 22, 2011; Image: Cheniere