Golden Pass LNG has announced the departure of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export cargo from its LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas, marking the start of exports from the site.
The joint venture, owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, reported that the cargo was safely loaded and had departed from the facility, which is designed to have a capacity of approximately 18.1 million tons per annum (mtpa).
Shipping data indicated that the vessel, the Al Qa’iyyahal, had left the terminal, although the destination of the inaugural shipment was unspecified.
Reuters reported that the shipment was likely heading to Italy to address shortfalls in contracted LNG deliveries due to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Golden Pass president and CEO Alex Savva said: “Today’s first LNG export cargo is a defining moment for Golden Pass, our workforce, the community and the nation. As we advance toward full commercial operations, we are proud to have commenced supplying reliable US LNG to the global market.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the employees, contractors, regulators, community members, QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil for their role and support in delivering this impactful milestone.”
Golden Pass said construction and commissioning of Trains 2 and 3 are ongoing, with each train scheduled to commence production once Train 1 achieves stable operation. The total investment involved in the project, which began production last month, is more than $10bn.
Golden Pass chief commercial officer Jeff Hammad said: “The successful commencement of LNG exports from our Sabine Pass terminal marks the fulfilment of the vision our shareholders – QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil – set in motion when they committed to this project years ago. It is incredibly rewarding to stand here now with Golden Pass delivering on that promise and shaping the future of global energy.”
Qatar Petroleum holds a 70% stake in the LNG project, while ExxonMobil owns the remaining 30%.
The Golden Pass LNG project sources gas from several domestic basins including Haynesville, Eagle, Permian, Marcellus and Barnett.
