Woodside negotiating with potential partners for equity stake in Louisiana LNG

Australia’s Woodside Energy is in the midst of talks with a handful of potential purchasers of equity stakes in its Louisiana LNG project, Reuters reported citing sources familiar with the matter.

According to Reuters, multiple sources have confirmed that the prospective buyers include Japan’s JERA and Tokyo Gas as well as Mid-Ocean Energy, which is backed by the world's biggest oil company Saudi Aramco.

Previously in November, Woodside’s CEO Meg O’Neill told Reuters that the Australian firm would be adding partners to the project before March, when it seeks to take a final investment decision (FID) on the huge facility, which would boast a production capacity of 27.6mn tonnes per year (tpy).

Reuters reports that Williams Companies, a US pipeline operator, has also been in talks with the Perth-headquartered energy firm.

Woodside has been eyeing beginning production at Louisiana LNG in 2028. The company first opened talks with potential partners back in September.

The firm agreed to buy the project from cash-strapped Tellurian a few months earlier in July for 900mn, when at that time it was known as Driftwood LNG.

Woodside has indicated that it may sell up to 50% of equity in the first phase of the project and would therefore likely accept a few bids. The first phase of the facility is expected to produce 11mn tpy and come with a price tag of $16bn.

Three more phases are expected to be constructed to expand the project to a nameplate capacity of 27.6mn tpy.

Despite encountering a plethora of roadblocks while owned by Tellurian, Woodside has been steadfast in its determination to bring the project to fruition.

The return to the White House of Donald Trump has also given a boost to the project’s fortunes. Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his support for fossil fuels, earlier this month gave the green light to restart approvals of permits for new LNG project.

The 47th US president also announced the creation of an ‘energy dominance’ council, signalling a bright future for the US LNG industry under his administration.