Baker Hughes clinches Rio Grande LNG gig

US energy services firm Baker Hughes has won a contract from compatriot Bechtel to supply three main refrigerant compressors for NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project in Texas.

In total, Baker Hughes will supply six Frame 7 gas turbines paired with 18 centrifugal compressors across Rio Grande’s first three LNG trains, with a capacity of 17.61 mtpa, in a parallel configuration arrangement, it said in a statement.

Baker Hughes did not provide the price tag of the contract.

Packaging of the turbine/compressor train, as well as assembly of the compressors and testing of the trains, will take place at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Italy.

The announcement follows another recent contract awarded by Bechtel to Baker Hughes to supply two liquefaction trains for the first phase of Sempra’s Port Arthur LNG export project in Texas.

US LNG terminal developer NextDecade is expecting to take a final investment decision on the first three trains of its Rio Grande LNG export project in early July.

NextDecade sold 16.2 mtpa of LNG from the project’s first phase, and received binding commitments from a syndicate of lenders to support a positive FID of the first three liquefaction trains.

The firm has two lump-sum turnkey EPC contracts with Bechtel for the LNG export project for the first three trains. The full project would include five trains with a capacity of 27 mtpa.

The first deal is for two LNG trains with a capacity of some 11.74 mtpa, two 180,000-cbm tanks, and one marine loading berth, while the second deal is for one LNG train with a capacity of 5.87 mtpa.

Prior to FID, NextDecade issued a limited notice to proceed to Bechtel last year to begin ramping up its personnel and initiate site preparation work at the Rio Grande LNG site.

First LNG cargoes from the first phase of the project are expected in 2027.

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