First LNG commissioning cargo departs from Cove Point terminal

RICHMOND, Virginia -- A transport ship carrying the first cargo of liquefied natural gas produced for export departed Thursday, March 1, from the Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG terminal, where the newly constructed liquefaction facility is undergoing final commissioning. All major equipment has been operated and is being commissioned as expected following a comprehensive round of testing and quality assurance activities.

Shell NA LNG is providing the natural gas needed for liquefaction during the commissioning process and is off-taking by ship the LNG that is produced.

When commissioning is complete, DECP will produce LNG for ST Cove Point, which is the joint venture of Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas, and for Gail Global (USA) LNG, the U.S. affiliate of GAIL (India) LTD under 20-year contracts. DECP's liquefaction facility is designed to operate 24 hr a day, seven days a week, and has a nameplate capacity of 5.25 mtpa of LNG, equivalent to approximately 8.3 million gal of LNG per day.

Construction of the liquefaction facility began in October 2014, following more than three years of federal, state and local permit reviews and approvals. With a cost of approximately $4 billion, it is the largest construction project ever for Maryland and for Dominion Energy. Construction has involved more than 10,000 craft workers and a payroll of more than $565 million.