Shutdown of the explosion-damaged Freeport LNG liquefied natural gas export plant in Texas will continue into December, the firm said Nov. 18, confirming market speculation that repairs, needed process changes and approvals had not reached the point where it could reopen this month as it had recently predicted.
Facility officials hired Kiewit Corp. to manage site reconstruction and restart of the plant, the second largest of its type in the U.S., which had exported 15 million tons per year of liquid gas, with most supply going to Europe since the Ukraine war began. Sector consultant Rystad Energy says shipments from Freeport had risen 44% since the invasion, with the facility supplying 10% of the continent.