The groundbreaking ceremony of the Cameron LNG project took place in Hackberry, Louisiana (USA) on the 23rd of October, in presence of GDF SUEZ and its partners along with several federal, state and local elected officials.

Cameron LNG project, which is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, aims to convert the existing LNG import terminal in a liquefaction factory of natural gas.

The plant will consist of three liquefaction trains - with a capacity of 4 million tons per annum (mtpa) each. Today LNG regasification terminal, Cameron LNG will then be able to liquefy natural gas for export from 2018.

During the year 2014, the project has received all the American administration agreements. The Final Investment Decision (FID) was taken on August 6, 2014. Cameron LNG is now, after the Sabine Pass project of Cheniere company, the second American LNG export project to have completed the process of obtaining the various permits needed to start work.

Currently LNG leading importer in Europe, and third in the world, GDF SUEZ will, through this project, diversify and increase its flexibility to supply LNG to its current and future partners in high growth areas. This new source of LNG also help to increase the size of its portfolio, to achieve its target of 20 million tonnes per year by 2020.

Philip Olivier, CEO GDF SUEZ LNG, said: "The ground breaking ceremony marks the tangible start of our project. After years of joint efforts and strong commitment from all the partners to put this project on track, it is a great satisfaction to launch the effective construction of a project which will contribute significantly to the growth of LNG supplies and increase LNG trade between major producing and consuming regions of the world."
Strong economic impacts

The conversion of the existing industrial site ("brownfield project") allows to reuse already existing elements such as LNG tanks. Compared to a "greenfield project" in which everything have to be built, the project is characterized by lower investment and a shortened time.

The project will create 3000 direct jobs, and hundreds offsite, to support the terminal design, engineering, and construction. The economic impact of this LNG export project is significant in terms of economic growth, domestically and internationally.

The Cameron LNG consortium is composed of Sempra (50.2%), GDF SUEZ (16.6%), Mitsui & Co. (16.6%) and Japan LNG Investment (16.6%), a company formed by NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) and Mitsubishi. The project includes the Cameron LNG regasification terminal in Hackberry, Louisiana, and the construction and operation of the liquefaction plant close to it.

Milestones Cameron LNG project
  • May 3, 2012: GDF SUEZ signed an agreement with Sempra Energy to develop a liquefaction plant and to access liquefaction capacity.
  • November, 2012: FEED studies started.
  • May 17, 2013: GDF SUEZ signed a joint venture agreement with Sempra Energy, Mitsubishi and Mitsui for the development, financing and construction of the plant.
  • February 12, 2014: Conditional approval from the Department of Energy to export LNG to non -FTA countries: A key step in the Cameron LNG development.
  • July 19, 2014: The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave its final order to the Cameron LNG project.
  • August 6, 2014: GDF SUEZ and its partners took the Final Investment Decision for the Cameron LNG project.
  • September, 2014: The US Department of Energy gave its final approval to export LNG to non-FTA countries.
  • October 23, 2014: Liquefaction plant groundbreaking ceremony.
  • End 2017: Start of technical operations.
  • 2018: Start of commercial operations.
  • 2019: Start of technical operations.
  • 2019: The three LNG trains will be in operation with a production capacity of 12 million tons of LNG per year.
Key Figures
  • 12 million tons of LNG
    Annual production capacity of the plant
  • 4million tons of LNG / year
    Capacity reserved to GDF SUEZ
  • 16,6%
    GDF SUEZ's stake
distributed by