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By Ruth Liao and Stephen Stapczynski
The Golden Pass liquefied natural gas terminal under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas. Photographer: Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg
The Texas joint venture between QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil Corp. is targeting February to load its first liquefied natural gas cargo, in what would be a major milestone for US exports of the fuel.
The timeline could still change because initiating production at LNG export facilities is a complex procedure, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. A Golden Pass spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Golden Pass LNG, located at the border between Texas and Louisiana, is 70%-owned by QatarEnergy while Exxon holds the other 30%. Exxon said previously that the venture was due to start LNG production by the end of the year.
The facility is part of an LNG boom that in the space of several years has turned the US into the world’s biggest exporter. Golden Pass will become the ninth operational US export plant. It’s slated to bring a total of 18 million tons a year of capacity online once fully completed, just as concerns are mounting that global supply could exceed demand.
One of the next steps in the startup process at Golden Pass is expected to involve an LNG cargo imported from Qatar that will be used to cool down the complex. The vessel Imsaikah is now heading toward Texas with an estimated arrival date of Nov. 29, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg, although vessel data is subject to change.
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