Cheniere Ups LNG Export Capacity With New Terminal Expansion

LNG exporter Cheniere Energy said on Monday it had substantially completed its Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project in Texas, increasing its liquefied natural gas production capacity by more than 20 per cent to 56 million tons per annum (mtpa).

The expansion strengthens Cheniere’s position as the largest US LNG exporter at a time when the industry is adding capacity to meet growing demand from overseas markets.

The company said the project reached substantial completion this month after contractor Bechtel Energy handed over the seventh and final liquefaction train to Cheniere.

Cheniere had issued Bechtel full notice to proceed on the project in June 2022, while first LNG production from the first train was achieved in December 2024.

Corpus Christi LNG has been operating as an export terminal since 2018. Cheniere is also constructing an expansion project adjacent to the Corpus Christi Stage three Project for two additional trains, both of which received a final investment decision in 2025.

Separately, the company said it exported its 5,000th LNG cargo this month from its Sabine Pass facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, with the shipment bound for Asia.

The Sabine Pass LNG terminal has liquefaction facilities with a total production capacity of over 30 mtpa of LNG in operation, with the phase one expansion project expected to add six mtpa of capacity.

Cheniere said it has supplied more than 340 million tons of LNG worldwide since shipping its first cargo in 2016.