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In July last year, FERC approved Golden Pass’ request to partially place the NGPL interconnect facilities in service.
After that, Golden Pass sought approval in November 2025 to place the remainder of the Sabine Spur facilities and associated appurtenant facilities in-service on or about February 1, 2026.
FERC approved the request on Monday.
The Sabine Spur facilities include approximately 450 feet of new 24-inch suction and discharge lines, a new valve station, approximately 0.9 miles of 24-inch pipeline spur (Sabine Spur, approximately 0.25 miles of 24-inch NGPL Interconnect Spur, a pig launcher at the NGPL Interconnect, a pig receiver at MP 00 of the Sabine Spur, and one 7000hp electric compressor unit.
In addition to this approval, FERC recently approved a request by Golden Pass to introduce hazardous fluids into the refrigerant storage system and the Train 1 dry liquid flare header.
Golden Pass also filed a request with FERC to introduce hazardous fluids into warm end systems.
Golden Pass requests a notice to proceed authorization to introduce hazardous fluids into these systems.
The JV has also received FERC approval to introduce hazardous fluids to the thermal xxidizers under the notice to proceed dated December 23, 2025.
Golden Pass intends to place the thermal oxidizers into service with the systems in this request, it said.
LNG
State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the Golden Pass project with a capacity of more than 18 mtpa and will offtake 70 percent of the capacity, while US energy firm ExxonMobil has a 30 percent share.
As previously reported by LNG Prime, the 174,000-cbm Imsaikah delivered a cooldown cargo from Qatar to the LNG facility last month as the facility prepares to start production of the first liquefaction train.
The LNG carrier left the facility earlier this month.
In September 2025, Golden Pass LNG secured approval from the US DOE to export previously imported LNG from October.
The JV requested that DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management issue an order granting GPLNG to engage in short-term exports of up to 50 Bcf of LNG, on a cumulative basis, that will have been previously imported into the US from foreign sources.
The LNG supplies will either be re-exported or regasified to be used as fuel gas at the facility.
Contractors
A joint venture of Chiyoda, McDermott, and Zachry won the EPC contract to build the three Golden Pass trains worth about $10 billion next to the existing LNG import terminal in the vicinity of Sabine Pass, Texas.
However, Zachry Holdings said in May 2024 that it had filed for bankruptcy, initiating a structured exit from the Golden Pass LNG export project due to “financial challenges” related to the facility’s construction.
In November 2024, Japan’s Chiyoda and McDermott’s CB&I reached a deal with Golden Pass LNG to complete the construction of the first liquefaction train following the exit of Zachry.
Additionally, Chiyoda and McDermott signed a revised EPC contract with Golden Pass LNG in November 2025 to complete the construction of the second and third liquefaction units.
