Freeport LNG plans to restart one of three liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains this week at its Texas facility after the company repairs some damage from Hurricane Beryl, it said on Monday.
The plant, located in Freeport, Texas, south of Houston, had halted operations on July 7 before Beryl hit the coast, causing widespread power outages and wind damage.
Freeport LNG, the second-largest U.S. LNG exporter, said it plans to restart the remaining two trains shortly after the first resumes operation, but production will be reduced while it continues repairs. The company stated that output would “steadily ramp up to full rates as these repairs are completed.”
Each of Freeport’s three liquefaction trains can turn about 0.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of gas into LNG. One billion cubic feet is enough gas to supply about 5 million U.S. homes for a day.
Freeport LNG is closely watched by the market because its shutdowns can impact global gas prices when demand decreases. Since Freeport shut down, U.S. gas futures have declined by about 2% to a two-month low of $2.26 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).
The Brazos Pilots Association, which services ships in the port, said the Freeport LNG terminal was still closed and there were draft restrictions in place.