The second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility
was knocked offline by a fiery blast last June and operations halted
while regulators review operations and staffing.
When fully running, Freeport LNG processes about 2 billion cubic
feet per day of natural gas and exports up to 15 million tonnes of
LNG per year. Its progress toward reopening is closely watched
because of the impact on U.S. natural gas prices.
Bryan Lethcoe, a regional director of regulator Pipeline Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), said it would take "a
number of months" for Freeport LNG to return to full operation.
PHMSA officials declined to provide an exact estimate.
Residents questioned whether regulators have provided adequate
oversight over the plant's repairs, its past emissions or the
monitoring of local residents' health.
"We're concerned about them getting close to reopening. I'm hoping
FERC and PHMSA kind of slow down the process of allowing them to
reopen," said Melanie Oldham, one of about 100 residents who
attended the meeting.
A Freeport LNG spokesperson declined to comment.
The blast resulted from inadequate operating and testing procedures,
operator fatigue and other shortcomings, a safety audit found. About
10,000 pounds of methane were released, said a PHMSA representative.
Methane is the main component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse
gas.
The LNG producer has completed all repairs and is working to restart
the facility safely once regulators approve its plans, a
spokesperson previously has said.
Linda Daugherty, PHMSA's deputy associate administrator, said its
reviews continue. Officials declined to comment on whether they
uncovered any safety violations.
(Reporting by Arathy Somsekhar in Freeport, Texas; Editing by
Matthew Lewis and Daniel Wallis)
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