Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, has achieved first production of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Train 1 at its Sabine Pass Terminal, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey to full operations, according to a March 30 news release.
The achievement reportedly reflects years of planning, engineering, permitting, construction, start-up activities, and community collaboration.
“Today, we began producing LNG at our terminal in Sabine Pass, marking the completion of a significant effort to construct, commission, and start up the first LNG Train and the beginning of operating a world-class facility with an exceptional team,” said Alex Savva, president and CEO of Golden Pass. “This remarkable step was achieved through the unwavering dedication of our employees, commitment of our shareholders, and the strength of our partnerships.”
First LNG paves the way for Golden Pass LNG to deliver its first cargo, achieve sustained liquefaction operations, and meet its stated commercial and strategic objectives.
“I’m proud of our team and their tireless work to ensure we safely reached this milestone,” said Jeremy Horn, vice president of Operations for Golden Pass. “We’re excited to go to work delivering Texas LNG to power the world.”
The achievement is also credited as an important milestone for Golden Pass LNG’s shareholders, highlighting the project’s strategic role in strengthening global energy supply and advancing long term LNG growth.
Golden Pass anticipates beginning to export LNG to global customers in the second quarter of 2026.
April 20, a tanker arrived at the Golden Pass LNG facility in Sabine Pass to collect the plant’s inaugural export of liquefied natural gas, after finally beginning production earlier this year following prolonged delays in construction, reported SeekingAlpha.com.
The Al Qaiyyah LNG tanker, which arrived at the facility, is owned by QatarEnergy, which has a 70% stake in the local plant; ExxonMobil holds the other 30% of the project’s equity.
The Exxon-chartered LNG carrier HL Sea Eagle, was in the Gulf of Mexico, with ship-tracking data showing it headed to Golden Pass, a sign it could load the second shipment from the facility, Reuters reported.
Golden Pass is expected to be one of the largest U.S. LNG export plants when fully operational, with total capacity of more than 18M metric tons/year.
The project has faced delays and cost overruns since construction began in 2019, including the bankruptcy of its original lead contractor; Golden Pass reported on March 30 that it had produced its first LNG.
