Editorial Comment

The US East Coast will send out its first LNG exports in early 2018 as Dominion Energy’s Cove Point LNG export facility in Lusby, Maryland becomes operational. The project has a nameplate capacity of 0.75 Bft3d (5.25 metric MMtpy) of LNG at its single train. The terminal’s entire output is contracted by GAIL Global (USA) LNG LLC and Pacific Summit Energy LLC over a 20-yr period. Dominion plans to achieve commercial operations in early 2018, and stated in late December that “…all major equipment has been operated and is being commissioned following a comprehensive round of thorough testing and quality assurance activities.” First LNG exports from Cove Point, originally scheduled for end-2017