The company submitted its application to DOE on December 10.
Earlier this year, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the US Coast Guard (USCG) received an application from ST LNG for the proposed development.
ST LNG is requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization from DOE to export LNG in an amount of up to approximately 460 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year (equivalent to approximately 8.4 million metric tons per annum) from its proposed deepwater port (DWP) export project to be located off the southeast coast of Matagorda.
The company requests authorization, on a non-additive basis, to export LNG to both countries with which the US has a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and any country that lacks an FTA with the US requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.
Moreover, ST LNG seeks such authorization both on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who may hold title to the LNG at the point of export.
Consistent with the DOE’s term extension policy statement, ST LNG requests authorization for a term extending through December 31, 2050, and DOE’s past practice, to allow three additional years to export the approved volume of LNG from the project.
FID in 2026?
According to the project timeline submitted with the application, ST LNG expects to receive approval from MARAD by June 2026 while continuing to work on project financing.
Following approvals, ST LNG could reach a final investment decision as early as the second quarter of 2026.
The company expects that it could start loading LNG from the first phase of the project in 2029.
ST LNG plans to develop the project in four phases, with each phase producing approximately 2.1 mtpa of LNG.
The launch of the second phase is expected in March 2031, the third in September 2032, and the fourth in March 2034.
Each phase would include three large platforms (a gas treatment platform, an LNG liquefaction platform, and an accommodations and utility platform), one LNG transfer platform, and a dolphin mooring system.
The project would also include floating storage units (FSUs) for each of the phases.
ST LNG intends to acquire four existing LNG carriers, which would be converted to serve as FSUs.
Pipeline
Moreover, the project would involve constructing a lateral pipeline approximately five kilometers in length that will connect to an existing offshore pipeline in vicinity of the project.
Under the base-case scenario, the project would require an estimated total of 1,260 million standard cubic feet per day of feed gas to process and export approximately 8.4 mtpa of LNG.
The intended plan of service for supply of natural gas feedstock for the project facility includes building a short lateral from the supply header of the facility to Transco’s offshore system, approximately 10 miles offshore near Brazos Block 450.
The Transco offshore system consists of a 36-inch and 30-inch pipeline at that location.
ST LNG’s intention to interconnect the project into one of these offshore headers to receive gas by way of the Transco system from both the Katy and Tres Palacios gas supply hubs.
ST LNG also said in the application that it anticipates entering one or more long-term of more than two years and up to twenty years contractual agreements with vendors and customers for natural gas liquefaction and LNG export services.
Management
ST LNG’s website shows that Sharad Tak is the founder and CEO of the company, Alap Shah is the president, and Barry Reisig is the CFO.
Tak has more than 40 years of experience as an entrepreneur, while Shah was previously New Fortress Energy’s managing director of FLNG development, the website shows.
Shah conceptualized and executed NFE’s FAST LNG program involving multiple liquefaction trains on various marine infrastructures from 2021-2024.
The first train of 1.4 mtpa is installed and commissioned offshore Altamira, Mexico, on jack-up rigs.