America's first shale gas export terminal starts production

New York

CHENIERE Energy Inc has started production at what will become the first terminal to export natural gas from America's shale formations, according to ING Capital, which helped finance the project.

The company is receiving about 50 million cubic feet of the fuel a day, chilling it into liquefied natural gas at the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, and storing it in tanks before the first export, Richard Ennis, head of natural resources at ING, said last week.

Mr Ennis said he receives regular updates from the company and that he hadn't been informed of a delay in the startup. Cheniere spokeswoman Faith Parker didn't immediately respond to telephone and e-mailed requ…