Venture Global asks federal regulators to place in service its Plaquemines LNG plant

By Curtis Williams

HOUSTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Venture Global VG.N has asked federal regulators to allow it to place phase 1 of its Plaquemines LNG plant into service, a final step before it can begin commercial operations at the LNG export facility in Louisiana, according to a FERC filing on Thursday.

Once approved, it will allow the company to sell LNG to its long-term customers that include Shell SHEL.L.

"Given the success of these commissioning operations, Plaquemines LNG respectfully requests authorization to place all of Phase 1 in-service," the company wrote.

Venture Global had previously said that despite high global LNG prices it will begin commercial operations on October 31.

LNG prices have averaged in September above $25 per million British thermal units at both the European benchmark TTF and Asian benchmark JKM, according to financial firm LSEG.

The company has benefited from high spot prices during Plaquemines' commissioning period.

Plaquemines is the second-largest US LNG facility.