Cheniere gets FERC OK for two more Corpus Christi LNG trains

FERC said in its approval dated March 10 it had a granted an application filed by Corpus Christi Liquefaction and CCL Midscale 8-9 in March 2023, requesting authorization for a second expansion of Cheniere’s Corpus Christi LNG terminal in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.

The proposed midscale trains 8 and 9 project or project includes adding two midscale
liquefaction trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa, and associated facilities, as well as increasing the authorized loading rate at the terminal’s existing marine berth.

“The applicants are authorized under section 3 of the NGA to site, construct, and operate the CCL midscale trains 8 and 9 project, as described and conditioned herein and as more fully described in their application and supplements, including any commitments made therein, subject to the environmental conditions contained in the appendix to this order,” FERC said.

The regulator also said that the proposed facilities shall be constructed and made available for service within five years of the date of this order.

Last year, FERC prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the midscale trains 8 and 9 project, saying the approval of the project, with appropriate mitigating measures, “would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment”.

The FERC staff recommended 101 measures to be included as conditions.

FID expected this year

Cheniere CEO Jack Fusco recently confirmed that the company still expects to make a final investment decision to build two more midscale trains at its Corpus Christi LNG plant this year.

“During 2024, we locked in approximately half a billion dollars of long-lead time equipment and other costs under limited notices to proceed with Bechtel related to trains 8 and 9, helping to ensure the project can maximize efficiencies on both cost and schedule,” Fusco said.

Cheniere’s Corpus Christi plant currently liquefies natural gas at three operational trains, each with a capacity of about 5 mtpa.

In addition, Cheniere just produced the first cargo at the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project in Texas.

This project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.

The CCL midscale trains 8 and 9 project will include two trains, nearly identical in design to trains 1-7 and each capable of producing up to 1.64 mtpa of LNG, on-site refrigerant storage, a 220,000-cbm LNG storage tank, and a BOG compressor.

The project could have a capacity of about 5 mtpa when debottlenecking potential is included.