en.Wedoany.com Reported - XRG has completed the acquisition of additional equity interests in Trains 4 and 5 of the Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, expanding its exposure to one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities and securing equity in all five trains under construction.

XRG stated that this investment strengthens its strategic presence in the US LNG sector and supports its ambition to build a world-class global gas portfolio. North America has been identified as a core growth region for the company, with the United States remaining central to its strategy due to its abundant energy resources, growing power demand, artificial intelligence-driven infrastructure growth, reindustrialization, industrial expansion, and favorable investment environment. The transaction also reflects XRG's confidence in the long-term role of US LNG in supporting global energy security and deepening energy cooperation between the US and the UAE.

Mohamed Al Aryani, President of XRG's International Gas Business, said the acquisition is a key step in executing the company's global gas strategy. He noted that the world needs reliable energy resources along with supporting export infrastructure, pipelines, storage, and market access, and that the Rio Grande LNG project demonstrates how large-scale infrastructure can connect competitive US gas supplies with international demand. Matt Schatzman, Chairman and CEO of NextDecade, pointed out that XRG's investment reflects confidence in the project's quality and scale, helping to deliver this world-class LNG facility.

XRG acquired an additional 7.6% equity interest in Trains 4 and 5 from an acquisition vehicle of Global Infrastructure Partners (a BlackRock affiliate). The transaction builds on XRG's previous initial investment, through which it also obtained an indirect 11.7% interest in Phase 1 (covering Trains 1, 2, and 3) via Global Infrastructure Partners. The latest acquisition has received all required regulatory approvals, including from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The total LNG production capacity of Trains 4 and 5 is expected to be approximately 12 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with each train having long-term offtake agreements with high-credit-quality customers. The total liquefaction capacity of the five trains under construction at Rio Grande LNG is approximately 30 mtpa, with first gas expected in the second half of 2026 and LNG production beginning in the first half of 2027. As part of XRG's initial investment, ADNOC Trading also entered into a 20-year LNG offtake agreement covering 1.9 mtpa from Train 4. At peak construction, the project is expected to support approximately 7,500 construction jobs, and upon operation, it will provide about 700 long-term jobs in the Rio Grande Valley region. In North America, XRG also has a presence in LNG, chemicals, and advanced materials through the Borouge International platform held by NOVA Chemicals, with its gas strategy focused on connecting competitive supply with growing demand centers across the integrated value chain.