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Cheniere’s Corpus Christi plant currently liquefies natural gas at three operational trains, each with a capacity of about 5 mtpa.
In June 2022, Cheniere made the final investment decision on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, worth about $8 billion.
Compatriot Bechtel officially started construction on the project in October of the same year.
The project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.
Cheniere’s unit, Corpus Christi Liquefaction, said in the December construction report filed with the US FERC on Tuesday that the overall project completion rate for Stage 3 is 77.2 percent.
The project was 75.9 percent complete as of November 30, 2024.
Stage 3 engineering and procurement are 97.2 percent and 97.2 percent complete, respectively, while subcontract and direct hire construction work are 88.2 percent and 42.6 percent complete, respectively.
During December, key work fronts included aboveground piping in train 1 – 2 and outside boundary limits (OSBL), concrete pours in trains 2 – 7, structural steel erection in trains 2 – 7 and OSBL, underground piping installation in trains 4 – 7 and OSBL, and equipment setting in trains 1 – 7.
CCL said additional continued work includes road improvements, drainage work, and mobilization of temporary facilities, equipment, and personnel.
Moreover, Bechtel continued testing of aboveground piping at Train 1, installation of pipe spools, loop checks, and cable pulls for power and instrumentation.
During January 2025, Bechtel will continue the same work on the first train.
First LNG cargo
Cheniere initially said that LNG deliveries from the expansion project were expected to begin in 2025 with full production in 2027.
However, Cheniere’s CEO Jack Fusco said in August last year that the company is expecting to complete the expansion phase ahead of schedule.
Last month, Cheniere started producing LNG at the first train of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project.
“The commissioning process continues, and Cheniere expects substantial completion of train 1 to be achieved at the end of the first quarter of 2025, over six months ahead of the guaranteed completion date,” the company said.
Cheniere is yet to announce the departure of the first LNG cargo from the expansion project.
Following the completion of all seven trains of CCL Stage 3, the expected total production capacity of the Corpus Christi liquefaction facility will be over 25 mtpa of LNG.
In addition to this expansion, Cheniere plans to build two more liquefaction trains as part of the third expansion phase at the Corpus Christi plant.
Cheniere aims to take a final investment decision on this project in 2025.
Also, Cheniere aims to build two new liquefaction trains as part of the Sabine Pass Stage 5 expansion project to add up to 20 mtpa of capacity to the giant 30 mtpa facility.