Sempra Energy has secured approval from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for the $10bn Cameron liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction-export project in Louisiana.
The project will feature the construction of three LNG liquefaction and export facilities at the existing LNG terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana.
Each facility is expected to have 12 million tonnes of annual export capacity from 2018.
Commenting on the DOE’s approval, Sempra Energy chairman and CEO Debra Reed said: "Today’s decision marks the last major regulatory hurdle for our Cameron LNG liquefaction-export project, clearing the way for execution of the largest capital project in Sempra Energy’s history.
"This landmark project will create thousands of jobs and economic benefits for Louisiana and the US for decades to come, while delivering natural gas to America’s trading partners in Europe and Asia."
The project is being developed by Cameron LNG, which will be jointly owned by Sempra, GDF Suez, Mitsui and Mitsubishi, through a related company jointly established with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK).
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By GlobalDataSempra Energy will hold 50.2% interest in the Cameron project while the three other partners will each have 16.6% stakes.
Construction of the project is expected to start later in 2014, with the first full year of operations planned in 2018.
A joint-venture (JV) between CB&I and Chiyoda International will build the project, which received the final environmental impact statement (EIS) in April 2014.
In February 2014, the DOE granted conditional authorisation to Cameron LNG to export domestically produced LNG to countries that have no free trade agreement with the US.
