Corpus Christi LNG Expansion Completed in the U.S., Capacity Reaches 3.1 Billion Cubic Feet per Day

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi LNG Stage 3 expansion project (CCL Stage 3) in Texas, USA, has achieved substantial completion. EPC contractor Bechtel Energy handed over the management and control of Train 7, the last of the seven midscale liquefaction trains of Stage 3, to Cheniere on the same day. Stage 3 comprises a total of 7 midscale liquefaction trains, which began producing LNG in December 2024. With all trains in operation, the existing liquefaction capacity of Corpus Christi LNG has increased to more than 25 million tonnes per annum.

The 7 midscale liquefaction trains of Stage 3 have a combined design natural gas processing capacity of approximately 1.3 billion cubic feet per day, with a maximum capacity of approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. Upon completion of the project, the nominal natural gas liquefaction capacity of the Corpus Christi terminal is approximately 3.1 billion cubic feet per day, with a maximum capacity of approximately 3.9 billion cubic feet per day. On this basis, the facility is currently second only to Sabine Pass LNG in Louisiana, making it the second-largest LNG export facility in the United States.

Cheniere currently reports Corpus Christi LNG operating data as 10 liquefaction trains, including the original 3 large trains and the 7 midscale trains of Stage 3, with existing LNG production capacity exceeding 25 million tonnes per annum. The project covers more than 1,000 acres, is equipped with 2 berths and 3 LNG storage tanks, produced its first LNG in 2018, and entered service in 2019.

Subsequent expansion at Corpus Christi is still under construction. Cheniere is building Midscale Trains 8 & 9 adjacent to the Stage 3 project. The two additional midscale liquefaction trains are expected to add approximately 5 million tonnes per annum of LNG production capacity combined, with substantial completion planned for the second half of 2028. As of the end of June 2026, the project was 48.3% complete overall, with engineering 91.5% complete, procurement 69.9% complete, and construction 6.7% complete.

In February of this year, the U.S. Department of Energy approved authorization for Midscale Trains 8 & 9 to increase LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries, with additional export capacity of up to 470 million cubic feet per day. Following the approval, the total authorized export capacity of Corpus Christi LNG reached 4.45 billion cubic feet per day.

The longer-term Stage 4 expansion has also entered the federal regulatory process. The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released the draft environmental impact statement for the project on September 18. The current proposal includes the construction of 4 additional liquefaction trains, 2 LNG storage tanks of 220,000 cubic meters each, an additional LNG vessel berth, and supporting pipeline facilities, and is intended to add approximately 1,200 Bcf per year of liquefaction capacity.