Golden Pass LNG Receiving First Feedgas

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Written by Daniel Graeber for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land Texas)

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Summary

The Golden Pass LNG export facility becomes the ninth terminal in the United States as it enters its commissioning phase. LNG is a top priority for a Trump administration pursuing global energy dominance.

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Gas at a Trickle so Far

The United States solidified its position as the world leader in exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on Tuesday, when the Golden Pass export facility on the Gulf Coast moved into the commissioning phase, data show.

IIR Energy in its NATGAS Today report for Tuesday found that Golden Pass moved into the commissioning phase, becoming the ninth LNG export terminal in the United States.

Volumes on Tuesday were thin as the facility just barely started registering feedgas this week, even with the extreme cold curtailing some pipeline volumes in the region. Sabine Pass on the southern coast of Texas, where the facility is located, was under an extreme cold-weather advisory on Tuesday, with morning temperatures well below the freezing mark.

Federal regulators in late 2024 gave the joint venture partners a three-year extension to finish building the Golden Pass LNG plant. The extension was granted due to delays caused when lead construction contractor Zachry Holdings filed for bankruptcy earlier that year, according to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filing.

Once fully completed, Golden Pass would boast a design capacity of 5.2 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of gas in the liquid form, making it one of the largest LNG export facilities in the United States.

There was no statement from Golden Pass joint venture partners Exxon Mobil Corporation (Spring, Texas) and Qatar Energy (Doha, Qatar), which started preparations for commissioning last month.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Project and Plant databases can learn more about Golden Pass--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--in a detailed project report.

Elsewhere from Middle East investors, XRG (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)) said Tuesday it took an additional 7.6% equity interest in two trains at the Rio Grande LNG facility, slated for Brownsville, Texas. XRG already has a small stake in the first three trains of the facility, which together comprise Phase 1 of development.

"By growing our presence in U.S. LNG, we are strengthening a resilient, globally scaled gas platform while further deepening the UAE-U.S. energy partnership--supporting energy security, jobs and investment-driven growth," said Mohamed Al Aryani, the president of the company's international gas business.

Unlike Golden Pass, it could be the end of the decade before Rio Grande, controlled by NextDecade (Houston, Texas), moves into the commissioning phase. But like Golden Pass, it will be a large-scale facility with a nameplate capacity of 5.9 MTPA.

Subscribers have access to IIR's multiple project reports covering construction of the Rio Grande facility.

Questions Remain Over U.S.-Sourced LNG

U.S. President Donald Trump has prioritized LNG in a strategy of energy dominance, a strategy backed by executive orders from 2025. That effort recently hit obstacles amid European backlash over annexation ambitions for Greenland, a NATO ally and Danish territory.

Europe since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 has relied heavily on U.S.-sourced LNG to fill the void left by sanctions-strapped Russian supplies. A decline in the relationship with European allies could open doors for new customers, such as those in the Middle East. U.S. data, however, show LNG deliveries to the region are at barely a trickle.

On the domestic side, the natural gas sector is under pressure from the freezing temperatures gripping much of the eastern half of North America. It could be at least a week before many states see temperatures move above the freezing mark.

IIR Energy data show a mismatch already between supply and demand. Gas production for Tuesday was around 95.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf), while consumption was closer to 129.1 Bcf. Elsewhere, the flood of new LNG facilities globally is expected to lead to a global glut at the end of the decade, suppressing investor appetite.

By the Numbers

• 5.9 MTPA expected from Golden Pass
• 7.6% equity interest for UAE at Rio Grande LNG

Key Takeaways

• Another U.S. LNG export terminal ramping up
• A supply glut is expected by the end of the decade

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).