Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%), has confirmed the loading and departure of its inaugural LNG export shipment from the Golden Pass LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas, United States (Golden Pass LNG press release, 22/04/2026).
- The LNG export plant will have a total capacity of about 18 Mt/year across 3 trains.
- The partners had taken their final investment decision exceeding USD10bn for the Golden Pass LNG project back in February 2019.
- Golden Pass LNG reached steady liquefaction operations and produced its first LNG from the initial of three trains on 30 March 2026 (KEI, 01/04/2026).
- Work on construction and commissioning progresses for Trains 2 and 3, set to become operational sequentially after Train 1 achieves stable performance.
70% of the project’s 18 Mt/year LNG production capacity will be taken by QatarEnergy Trading, the fully owned LNG trading arm of QatarEnergy. The press release from QatarEnergy noted that the start of LNG offtake from Golden Pass LNG will enhance QatarEnergy Trading’s global LNG portfolio and drive its business expansion.
This news follows a recent analysis by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasting sustained growth in US LNG exports, driven by the startup and scaling of five LNG export projects by the end of 2027. The EIA anticipates US LNG exports to surge by more than 14 Mt/year in 2026, reaching an average of 130 Mt/year, with a further 9% rise (11 Mt/year) in 2027. The US currently holds a peak LNG export capacity of nearly 140 Mt/year (KEI, 20/04/2026).
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