Another major LNG terminal in the U.S. shipped its first cargo this week.
Golden Pass LNG, located south of Port Arthur Texas, is a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70% ownership) and ExxonMobil (30% ownership). The terminal is officially at Sabine Pass, Texas. It has become the nation’s 10th liquefied natural gas terminal.
Carried by a Liberian-registered tanker, the shipment left port 23 days after Golden Pass achieved first LNG production, reported shipping news site, WorkBoat. However, the destination of the inaugural cargo was not disclosed.
The Golden Pass terminal opened in 2010 as an import terminal and 9 years later, shareholders okayed a $10 billion final investment decision to convert it into an LNG export terminal.
“Today’s first LNG export cargo is a defining moment for Golden Pass, our workforce, the community, and the nation,” said Alex Savva, President and CEO of Golden Pass. “As we advance toward full commercial operations, we are proud to have commenced supplying reliable U.S. LNG to the global market.
Once the export terminal is fully operational, the anticipated amount of LNG to be shipped will be about 18 million tons a year. It currently is running Train 1 while two more trains are under construction.