Corpus Christi LNG Train 3 first commissioning cargo loaded

Houston-based LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has reached new milestones at its Corpus Christi LNG facility in Texas.

The company said in a brief statement through its social media channels that it has started loading the commissioning cargo from Corpus Christi’s Train 3 on Monday, December 7.

The cargo was loaded onboard Knutsen’s LNG carrier La Mancha Knutsen capable of transporting up to 176,000 cubic meters of the chilled fuel.

According to the AIS data provided by VesselsValue, the vessel has already departed the facility and is currently sailing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cheniere further noted that this was also Corpus Christi’s 200th cargo.

In an operational report last month Cheniere said the third liquefaction train’s commissioning is at around 97 per cent completion. Substantial completion of Train 3 is expected to be reached in the first quarter of 2021.

Once the third train is fully commissioned, Corpus Christi plant located near Corpus Christi in Texas will have a total production capacity of approximately 15 mtpa of LNG.

Cheniere is also developing an expansion adjacent to the Corpus Christi project for up to seven midscale Trains with an expected total production capacity of approximately 10 mtpa of LNG, dubbed Corpus Christi Stage 3 project.

The company expects to commence construction of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 project upon, among other things, entering into an engineering, procurement, and construction contract and additional commercial agreements, and obtaining adequate financing.