FERC approves NextDecade’s request for more employees and longer hours in Texas

According to a'regulatory filing,' U.S. federal regulatory authorities approved on Friday a request by NextDecade for an increase in the number of workers who will be working at the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas.

NextDecade informed regulators that geopolitical tensions in the world had increased demand for U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), prompting developers and companies to act quickly to bring new supplies online. Global LNG supply issues have been caused by the Iran war. The world's second largest LNG producer, QatarEnergy has been unable to export super-cooled gas, and its plant has suffered damages. This could mean that global LNG supplies are disrupted for five years.

NextDecade, in a separate filing dated Friday, asked the Federal Regulatory Commission to?permit it to increase its peak construction staff by 2,275 to 7,500 workers, up from 5,225 previously authorized, to speed construction of the liquefied gas export terminal.

The federal regulators must approve any increase in the number of workers at LNG construction sites, to ensure that the developers adhere to the environmental conditions pre-approved by the federal regulators. This includes the impact the LNG development has on host communities.

The company stated that 'the decision to build two additional liquefaction train at the site increased the need for manpower and required approval for construction work to be done at night and weekends.

The filing indicated that FERC had approved the request for a?round the clock construction' and the increase of construction workers.

NextDecade is building five liquefaction trains at Rio Grande LNG, with a combined annual capacity of 30 million metric tonnes. (Reporting from Curtis Williams, Houston; Editing and proofreading by Matthew Lewis).

(source: Reuters)