Overview
Golden Pass LNG is a liquefied natural gas export terminal located in Sabine Pass, Texas, on the US Gulf Coast. The project is a joint venture between QatarEnergy, which holds a 70 percent stake, and ExxonMobil, which holds the remaining 30 percent. Golden Pass represents QatarEnergy’s first major LNG export investment in the United States and one of the most significant Qatari energy ventures outside of Qatar itself.
Project History
The Golden Pass facility was originally constructed in the mid-2000s as an LNG import terminal, designed to receive and regasify LNG cargoes for distribution into the US natural gas pipeline network. However, the shale gas revolution in the United States fundamentally transformed the country’s energy landscape, turning it from a prospective LNG importer into one of the world’s largest gas producers and LNG exporters.
In response to this shift, QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil agreed to convert the Golden Pass facility from an import terminal into a liquefaction and export facility. The conversion project was sanctioned in 2019 and involves the construction of three liquefaction trains using Air Products’ AP-C3MR technology.
Capacity and Output
Upon full commissioning, Golden Pass LNG will have a total liquefaction capacity of approximately 18 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The facility will source natural gas from the US domestic pipeline network, liquefy it, and export LNG cargoes to international markets. The three trains are being brought online in a phased sequence.
Construction
The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the liquefaction facilities was awarded to a joint venture of Chiyoda International, McDermott International, and Zachry Group. The project experienced schedule delays and cost overruns during the construction phase, challenges that affected several large-scale LNG construction projects in the United States during the same period.
Strategic Significance
Golden Pass LNG extends QatarEnergy’s global LNG portfolio beyond the North Field, diversifying the sources and routes of its LNG supply. By investing in US export capacity, Qatar gains access to competitively priced US natural gas and can supply Atlantic Basin and European markets from a geographically distinct origin. The project reinforces QatarEnergy’s strategy of maintaining its position as one of the world’s leading LNG players through both domestic expansion (the North Field Expansion) and international investments.