America’s integrated gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Caturus, controlled by the energy-focused alternative investment manager Kimmeridge and supported by investments from Mubadala Energy and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), has taken steps to nearly double the planned capacity of its LNG export facility in Cameron Parish through the addition of a 7.75 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) expansion project in Louisiana, United States (U.S.).
Caturus has disclosed a five-train, 7.75 mtpa expansion project for its Commonwealth LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, which would increase the site’s planned capacity to approximately 17.25 mtpa. This expansion is targeted to enter service in the early 2030s, following planned base project operations.
David Lawler , Caturus’ CEO, commented: “Global energy demand continues to grow for more reliable, affordable energy, and the United States is in a position to supply it. That conversation is happening at the G20 and Gastech this week, and Commonwealth LNG helps provide that certainty.
“By capitalizing on the momentum at Commonwealth LNG and strength of our integrated platform, we’re creating additional capacity, greater flexibility for customers and a clear path for continued growth well into the next decade.”
The decision to increase the project’s capacity comes four months after the firm reached a final investment decision (FID) on its six-train, 9.5 mtpa Commonwealth LNG facility, closing $9.75 billion in base project financing.
Caturus confirms that base project construction is progressing safely and on schedule. Currently, operations are targeted for 2030, with approximately 8.5 mtpa of its 9.5 mtpa capacity subscribed under long-term sale and purchase agreements (SPAs).
Tim Wyatt , Caturus’ President, underlined: “The expansion project is the natural extension of what we’re already building, and our growing upstream portfolio provides the gas to support additional capacity. The market wants more volume and longer-term supply and our integrated offering has proven to be a success for our initial base project.
“We intend to pursue the expansion project with urgency and discipline, while continuing our open and constructive engagement with the Cameron Parish community, government officials and all stakeholders, listening carefully and working collaboratively as the work moves forward.”
The American LNG player expects to carry forward the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) experience from the base project, drawing on a proven modular construction methodology, established equipment and fabrication supply chain and existing relationships with vendors and partners.
The company previously gave the go-ahead to France’s Technip Energies , Commonwealth LNG’s EPC partner, to order major long-lead equipment for the facility, which will entail six Baker Hughes mixed-refrigerant compressors powered by LM9000 gas turbines, six Honeywell main cryogenic heat exchangers , and four Titan 350 gas turbine-generators from Solar Turbines .
The Commonwealth LNG project will be capable of loading LNG carriers up to 216,000 cubic meters. The $13-billion LNG project secured long‑term offtake agreements with several players, including EQT , Glencore , Mercuria , Petronas , and Aramco Trading .