Venture Global CEO denies legal delays for LNG projects

Venture Global CEO denies legal delays for LNG projects

The CEO of Venture Global LNG, a US-based company that develops liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, has said that the ongoing court battles with environmental groups and local communities are not affecting the progress of its projects.

Mike Sabel, the co-founder and co-CEO of Venture Global, said that the company was confident in its legal position and that it had obtained all the necessary permits and approvals for its projects.

The projects

Venture Global LNG is currently developing three LNG export projects in Louisiana: Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines, and Delta. The Calcasieu Pass project, located on the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to start commercial operations in 2022, with a capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG. The Plaquemines project, located on the Mississippi River, is expected to start construction in 2022, with a capacity of 20 MTPA of LNG.

The Delta project, also located on the Mississippi River, is expected to start construction in 2023, with a capacity of 20 MTPA of LNG. The company has secured long-term contracts with several customers from Europe and Asia for its LNG output.

The lawsuits

Venture Global LNG has faced several lawsuits from environmental groups and local communities who oppose its projects on various grounds, such as air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, wetland destruction, wildlife impacts, public health risks, and property rights violations.

Some of the lawsuits have challenged the validity and adequacy of the permits and approvals granted by the federal and state agencies to the company. Some of the lawsuits have also sought injunctions or temporary restraining orders to stop or delay the construction or operation of the projects.

The response

In an interview with [S&P Global Platts], Mike Sabel said that the lawsuits were not slowing down or disrupting the company’s projects. He said that the company had followed all the legal and regulatory requirements and that it had conducted extensive environmental and social impact assessments for its projects.

He said that the company had also engaged with the stakeholders and addressed their concerns through consultations and mitigation measures. He said that the company was prepared to defend its projects in court and that it had not faced any adverse rulings or orders so far. He said that the company was optimistic about the future of its projects and that it was committed to delivering low-cost and reliable LNG to its customers.