U.S. liquefied natural gas company Cheniere Energy Inc. plans to build its sixth liquefaction train and a third shipping berth at its Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish.
The company gave Bechtel, the lead contractor building its LNG terminals, notice to proceed with construction of Sabine 6. Cheniere has said it has a $2.5 billion contract with Bechtel to build Sabine 6 and expects the unit to enter service in 2023.
The Louisiana site, now producing up to 25 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year, will add production of up to 5 million more metric tons.
Cheniere Energy is the top LNG exporter in the U.S. and Louisiana is the No. 1 state exporter of LNG to foreign markets. The new project will increase Cheniere Energy’s capital investment in Cameron Parish to $19.5 billion, according to a statement issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards—including an estimated $3 billion invested in Train 6.
The expansion will bring 1,500 new construction jobs and 68 permanent new direct jobs at Sabine Pass LNG. All told, the company currently employs 472 people at Sabine Pass, with an additional 483 contractors working on-site.
“Cheniere Energy’s pioneering role in establishing the contemporary LNG industry in Louisiana has made our state the U.S. leader for LNG production and exports,” Edwards said in a prepared statement. “In addition to having provided billions of dollars in capital investment and thousands of construction jobs, Cheniere’s Sabine Pass complex is a global leader in the energy sector. With the addition of a sixth production train and a third shipping berth, Cheniere is poised to extend its record investment among manufacturing projects in Louisiana.”
