Germany’s state-owned Securing Energy for Europe GmbH, SEFE, has sought approval from the US energy regulator for liquified natural gas (LNG) developer Venture Global to begin construction on its Calcasieu Pass 2 LNG (CP2) LNG project in Louisiana.

This is the third appeal to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) following a similar request from two Japanese energy companies, Inpex Corp. and JERA, also seeking approval for construction by Venture Global for the project.

Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC, is developing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, south of the city of Lake Charles. The project site is at an ideal location on the Calcasieu Ship Channel at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, featuring deep-water access, proximity to plentiful gas supplies, and ease of transport for buyers.

SEFE’s letter to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), dated Monday, highlighted the role of the CP2 LNG project in securing Europe’s energy supply.

In June, SEFE, via its unit Wingas, signed a 20-year deal to buy 2.25 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG from Venture Global’s proposed 20 mtpa CP2 project in Louisiana.

According to Reuters, Venture Global has already enabled the reliable supply of three LNG cargoes to SEFE so far in 2023, which arrived during a critical period of Germany’s gas crisis.

Aside from the FERC approval, the CP2 LNG project is also awaiting export authorization from the Department of Energy before construction can commence. Venture Global LNG, which started early site work on CP2 in the spring of 2023, has contracts for nearly half the plant’s capacity of 20 MTPA and expects the rest to be sold before the end of 2023.

Notably, CP2 LNG will be the second LNG export project developed by Venture Global LNG in Cameron Parish, with the first being the Calcasieu Pass Project. Together, they represent more than $10 billion USD of direct investment in the parish.