LNG:  The Facts on safety

There’s been some reports recently about the safety of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The truth is that the LNG industry has been around for decades and it has a good safety record. In fact, LNG is one of the safer petroleum-based fuels around.

Safe record for many years
The LNG process—turning natural gas into liquid, shipping it, regasifying it (turning the liquid back into a gas), and then piping the natural gas to homes and businesses—has been in use for about 45 years. During that time, LNG has been delivered across the oceans without major accidents or safety problems, either in port or on the high seas. There have been more than 30,000 LNG carrier trips, covering more than 60 million miles. This is strong evidence of this energy source’s transportation safety. And, at a time when North American natural gas resources are declining, safe transportation of fuel becomes vital for future supply. Countries like Japan and Korea receive all the natural gas they consume as LNG. France and Spain are also large consumers.

SAFETY RECORD: Over the past 45 years, liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships have traveled 60 million miles with more than 30,000 carrier voyages. Today, nearly 150 LNG carriers deliver LNG throughout the world. There has never been a serious mishap, fire or casualty with an LNG carrier.

Today, nearly 150 LNG carriers safely transport more than 110 million metric tons of LNG annually to ports around the world.  This is more than all American homes consume each year.   There has never been a serious mishap, fire or casualty with an LNG carrier. And, no explosions or fatalities have ever occurred at sea.

The Cameron LNG terminal is being built to national and international safety standards that have been put in place to minimize the risk of such an occurrence at our site.  To ensure maximum safety, Cameron LNG has also elected to build this facility using full containment storage tanks - a tank within a tank - while many others in the industry have not.    

Environmentally friendly
LNG terminals are also low on environmental emissions. LNG operations are clean and follow international environmental protection standards.  And, in the unlikely event of a spill in water or on land, LNG is nontoxic and simply evaporates.