Australian energy producer Woodside Energy has secured U.S. pipeline giant Williams Companies as a partner in its $17.5 billion liquefied natural gas export project in Louisiana, according to Reuters.
Williams will take a 10% equity stake in the venture and fund about $1.9 billion in construction costs, including an 80% interest in the related Driftwood pipeline that will supply the facility.
The deal strengthens Woodside’s position as it moves the project toward a final investment decision and targets first LNG production in 2029. The company already has offtake agreements with Germany’s Uniper and Turkey’s BOTAŞ, and plans to sell an additional 10–20% stake to bring in more partners.
The investment marks another major vote of confidence in Louisiana’s role as a global LNG hub, even as U.S. permitting challenges and market volatility continue to test the sector. Read more from Reuters.
