NextDecade officially kicks off Rio Grande LNG work

US LNG firm NextDecade has officially started building the first phase of its Rio Grande LNG export project in Texas.

NectDecade announced on Thursday that it held the groundbreaking ceremony for the LNG export project.

Besides NextDecade’s CEO Matt Schatzman, the ceremony was attended by officials from Rio Grande LNG’s EPC contractor Bechtel, and other partners, stakeholders, and investors.

NextDecade officially kicks off Rio Grande LNG work
During the groundbreaking ceremony (Image: NextDecade)

In July, NextDecade took the final investment decision on the first three trains of its Rio Grande LNG export project in Texas and completed $18.4 billion project financing.

The firm also closed a joint venture agreement for the first phase which included about $5.9 billion of financial commitments from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), GIC, Mubadala, and TotalEnergies.

Phase 1, with nameplate liquefaction capacity of 17.6 mtpa, has 16.2 mtpa of long-term binding LNG sale and purchase agreements.

These include deals with TotalEnergies, Shell, ENN, Engie, ExxonMobil, Guangdong Energy Group, China Gas Hongda Energy Trading, Galp, and also Itochu.

NextDecade officially kicks off Rio Grande LNG work
OSBL-LNG tanks-Train 1 (Image: NextDecade)

As previously said, NextDecade awarded the $12 billion EPC contract to Bechtel.

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.

According to Rio Grande LNG’s latest construction report filed with the US FERC, the focus in September was on land clearing, the set up of temporary facilities, preparing onsite parking lots, deliveries of construction equipment and material, etc.

Moreover, in October the focus will be on western shoreline restoration and the continuation of civil site preparation activities, onsite roadway development and improvement, installation of test piles, and the installation of temporary onsite water storage, it said.

Most Popular

Harbour Energy joins PAE and Golar to develop FLNG project in Argentina

Harbour Energy said in a statement it had signed a participation agreement with PAE and Golar LNG to acquire...

US FERC to prepare supplemental EIS for Venture Global’s CP2 LNG project

In July last year, the regulator issued a final environmental impact statement for the CP2 LNG project, Venture Global’s third LNG...

Poland expands LNG import terminal

Gaz-System and Germany-based contractor TGE Gas Engineering announced the arrival of the first LNG cargo at the new jetty...

More News Like This

Woodside, Bechtel seal revised EPC deal for Louisiana LNG project

Woodside said on Thursday the lump sum turnkey deal is for the three-train 16.5 million tonnes per annum foundation...

Construction progresses on NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project

Schatzman said in a third-quarter business update that the facility "continues to progress safely, in line with schedule, and...

NextDecade seeks Rio Grande LNG rehearing after court ruling

In August, the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an order vacating the Federal Energy Regulatory...

NextDecade releases Rio Grande LNG construction update

In July 2023, NextDecade took the final investment decision on the first three Rio Grande trains and completed $18.4 billion project financing. NextDecade awarded...