-- The Golden Pass LNG terminal shipped its first LNG cargo from Train 1, marking a key milestone for what is the 10th LNG export facility in the US, the US Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.
The inaugural shipment departed on April 22, just 23 days after the facility achieved initial LNG production in March.
The startup comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions affecting flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have impacted over 10 billion cubic feet per day, roughly one-fifth of global gas supply.
Golden Pass LNG is currently the only new US export terminal expected to begin shipments in 2026.
The project, a 70:30 joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil (XOM), reached a final investment decision in February 2019.
Construction timelines were later extended after the lead contractor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, forcing the developers to appoint a replacement to complete the project.
The facility includes three liquefaction trains, each designed with a nominal capacity of 0.7 Bcf/d and a peak capacity of 0.8 Bcf/d. Once fully operational, the terminal will have a total nominal capacity of 2 Bcf/d and peak capacity of 2.4 Bcf/d.
LNG plants often exceed nominal capacity in practice while remaining below peak thresholds.
Upon completion, Golden Pass LNG is expected to rank as the third-largest US LNG export facility by nominal capacity, trailing Sabine Pass and Plaquemines LNG.
The developers plan to bring Train 2 online in the second half of 2026, followed by Train 3 in the first half of 2027.
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