(The Center Square) – Woodside Energy has signed a deal to supply about 4.25 million tons of LNG annually produced primarily at its Louisiana export facility to BOTAS, a company owned by the Turkish government.
Australian oil and gas producer Woodside began construction in mid-September on a $17.5 billion export facility near Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish, which has planned production capacity of up to 16.5 million tons per year. Woodside expects the plant will begin operations in 2030.
Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said his country believes this will be the beginning of a successful relationship.
“We are observing the signing of an agreement between a Turkish company and Woodside for the supply of LNG, primarily from Louisiana LNG in the United States, which establishes a connection across continents,” Bayraktar said in a statement.
The companies intend to expand the relationship beyond a proposed LNG sales agreement and build a strategic cooperation in the wider region, said Bayraktar.
Daniel Kalms, Woodside’s Chief Operating Officer International, said in a statement strong support from the Turkish and United States governments helped to seal the agreement with BOTAS. “This agreement also strengthens the Turkish-US relationship and paves the way for building a larger strategic relationship with BOTAŞ that supports energy security and economic growth for Turkey and the United States,” Kalms said.
In July, the Trump administration announced a $750-billion energy agreement with the European Union that includes long-term commitments to purchase U.S. fossil fuels, including LNG, over 20 years.
Woodside received a commitment in April from German utility Uniper for 1 million tons per year over 13 years that is to be supplied by Louisiana LNG. The firm also has signed commitments totaling about 1.6 million tons per annum with Malaysia’s Petronas and China Resources Gas that are to be supplied from Woodside’s global production, which could include Louisiana LNG.
