US$8.2 Billion ST LNG Deepwater Liquefied Natural Gas Port Project Approved

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) approved ST LNG's permit application for its US$8.2 billion deepwater liquefied natural gas port project. The project is located approximately 16.7 kilometers offshore from Matagorda, Texas, USA, and is planned to include 4 liquefied natural gas trains with an annual capacity of 2.1 million tons each, totaling 8.4 million tons per year. The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2027 and commence operations in 2029; once completed, it is expected to increase U.S. liquefied natural gas export capacity by 7% to 9%.

The deepwater port is planned to be equipped with 20 offshore platforms, 4 floating liquefied natural gas storage units, 4 mooring systems, and approximately 12.4 kilometers of supporting pipelines. The natural gas feedstock is planned to come from the Tres Palacios natural gas storage and trading hub and Williams' Markham natural gas processing plant, and to be transported to the project area via the existing Transco natural gas pipeline. The existing pipeline is located approximately 9 kilometers northeast of the proposed port.

The project plans to locate liquefied natural gas loading, unloading, and transportation operations in the offshore area, reducing the need for large liquefied natural gas carriers to enter congested waters of onshore ports. According to the current engineering plan, the construction phase is expected to provide approximately 2,000 jobs, and once operational, the project can provide up to 855 long-term positions.

This approval was handled by the U.S. Maritime Administration, with joint review conducted alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, relevant federal agencies, and the State of Texas government. The project's final environmental impact report was completed in 410 days, approximately 3.7 years shorter than the agency's historical average review period. The decision on construction and operating permits has been included in federal regulatory docket number MARAD-2025-0096.