Freeport LNG seeks approval to demolish obsolete import facilities in Texas

By Curtis Williams

HOUSTON, April 7 (Reuters) - Freeport LNG has asked U.S. regulators for permission to demolish facilities in Texas that were previously used to import liquefied natural gas, according to a regulatory filing.

While the U.S. was once a major importer of the fuel, the shale revolution transformed the domestic gas market and turned the country into the world's largest LNG exporter. Freeport has not imported LNG since 2011.

“As the terminal has been operated exclusively for the purpose of liquefying natural gas and exporting LNG, and has not regasified imported LNG for well over a decade, Freeport LNG proposes to decommission, disconnect, and/or demolish certain obsolete facilities,” the company told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Freeport, the third largest LNG exporter in the U.S., said it wants FERC approval for the project by the end of this year, adding that removing the unused infrastructure would enhance operational safety and significantly reduce the time employees spend maintaining and inspecting non-operational assets.

“It will allow employees to instead focus on the safe maintenance and operation of those facilities currently in use,” the company said.

Freeport told regulators it plans to physically disconnect the regasification facilities from its liquefaction assets, with demolition to follow.