Houston-based LNG exporter Cheniere Energy reached substantial completion of the second liquefaction train at the Corpus Christi LNG project in Texas.
Commissioning is complete and Cheniere’s EPC partner Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals has turned over care, custody, and control of Train 2 to Cheniere.
Cheniere and Bechtel have now declared substantial completion on seven liquefaction trains at the Corpus Christi liquefaction project and the Sabine Pass liquefaction project ahead of each train’s guaranteed completion date and within project budgets, Cheniere said in its statement.
Under sale and purchase agreements with Électricité de France, Iberdrola, Naturgy Energy Group, PT Pertamina (Persero), and Woodside Energy Trading Singapore, the date of first commercial delivery is expected to occur in May 2020, upon which the term of each of these SPAs commences.
With the achievement of substantial completion, financial results of LNG sales from Train 2 going forward will be reflected in the statement of operations of Cheniere and its applicable affiliates.
The Corpus Christi facility consists of three large-scale LNG production units and supporting infrastructure, with an additional seven smaller trains, within stage three development of the Corpus Christi facility.
The project has already received a positive environmental assessment from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in March 2019 and is expected to receive all remaining necessary regulatory approvals for the project by the end of 2019.
The Corpus Christi LNG facility will also feature three LNG storage tanks with a capacity of approximately 10.1 billion cubic feet equivalent and two marine berths.
The seven smaller trains currently under development would increase the facility’s total expected nominal production capacity to approximately 23 million tons per annum (mtpa).