JERA and EDF Trading have signed a non-binding agreement for an LNG optimization joint venture through JERA Trading Pte. LRd. The JV is 67% owned by JERA and 33% owned by EDF. Through this JV, each company will dedicate their LNG trading groups and they are in talks to optimize JERA's liquefaction interests in the Freeport LNG Terminal. A final agreement will close by year-end 2018.
JERA and EDF believe that their is room to optimize global LNG trade and to establish a more liquid market for the product. This was due to the difficulty in predicting the ramp-up of U.S. LNG capacity and the rising prevalence of Europe as a balancing market for global LNG supplies.