First dedicated LNG bunkering facility in the US Gulf Coast for providing clean fuel to the maritime industry progresses toward construction by achieving the milestone of submitting permits to State and Federal agencies.
Galveston LNG Bunker Port, LLC (“GLBP”), a joint-venture between Pilot LNG and Seapath Group, a subsidiary of the Libra Group, announced today that it filed applications with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) seeking authorization to site, construct and operate the proposed GLBP small scale natural gas liquefaction facility on Shoal Point in Texas City, Texas, in the heart of the Galveston Bay/Greater Houston port complex. The GLBP project will be the region’s first dedicated LNG bunker terminal to provide clean LNG as marine fuel.
Galveston LNG Bunker Port has filed key regulatory applications with relevant government agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Clean Water Act and Rivers & Harbors Act, Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC) for the Texas Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) for Waterway Suitability Assessment (“WSA”).
The USACE application for the proposed project includes two natural gas liquefaction trains capable of producing approximately 600,000 gallons per day of LNG; two 3-million-gallon full containment LNG storage tanks; natural gas liquids and refrigerant storage; feed gas pre-treatment facilities; a bunker vessel loading berth and associated marine and loading facilities.
“The Galveston LNG Bunker Port project continues to meet its milestones, and we are very excited to announce that the necessary permitting applications have been submitted,” said Shaun Davison, Chief Development Officer of Pilot LNG. “We are confident that we will meet the rigorous requirements of State & Local permitting authorities to ensure that the project is delivered on-time and will meet the ever-growing demand for clean fuel supply in the Galveston Bay, and US Gulf Coast region by the end of 2026.”
Pilot LNG and Seapath Group signed a project development agreement in September of 2023 that provides a framework for the development, technical design, permitting and marketing of the proposed liquefaction project, which is estimated to come online in late 2026. The global maritime industry is increasingly adopting LNG as a marine fuel to significantly reduce emissions and meet tightening regulations, including IMO 2020, which came into effect January 1st, 2020.
Joshua Lubarsky, President of Seapath Group states: “Our experience in developing, building and operating energy infrastructure will help us with this much-needed facility.” Lubarsky continues “This facility is a critical investment into the resilience of the United States’ maritime infrastructure, and upon construction will immediately provide positive environmental and economic impacts in Texas City, Galveston Bay, and the US Gulf Coast.”
Ongoing development of the project is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The final investment decision to proceed with construction is contingent upon completing required commercial agreements, acquiring all necessary permits and approvals, and securing financing commitments.
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About Galveston LNG Bunker Port
The Galveston LNG Bunker Port project (“GLBP”) is being developed by Pilot LNG with the support and financial backing of its partner of Seapath Group, a Libra Group subsidiary. Located on Shoal Point in Galveston County, TX, part of the greater Houston-Galveston port complex, GLBP will supply clean-burning LNG to meet the growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel. Operations of GLBP will commence in late 2026. The terminal is being developed with a capacity of up to 600,000 gallons per day accompanied by two 3-million-gallon storage tanks. GLBP is ideally situated to supply the growing Galveston Bay Port Complex fuel and bunker markets. This includes LNG marine fuel deliveries directly to customers in the port complex and surrounding areas, such as the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area.