According to a FERC filing dated October 16, Cheniere’s unit CCL submitted compliance statements and associated documentation in support of a forthcoming request by CCL to introduce feed gas to the warm end of midscale Train 4.

Last month, Cheniere and EPC contractor Bechtel began startup/commissioning operations at the fourth train.

Cheniere received approval from FERC to introduce fuel gas and hot oil into the train on October 10, according to a separate FERC filing.

In addition, FERC granted Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline (CCPL) an extension of time until and including December 31, 2029, to complete construction of its Stage 3 pipeline project and make it available for service.

The project consists of a 21-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline, the installation of two Solar Titan 130E gas-fired compressor units at CCPL’s existing Sinton compressor station, meter stations, and other facilities

CCPL requested the extension because of a “longer than anticipated timeline for obtaining and installing the second compressor unit, and because of updated logistical and planning milestones.”

Seven trains

Cheniere’s Corpus Christi plant currently liquefies natural gas at three operational trains, each with a capacity of about 5 mtpa.

In June 2022, Cheniere made the final investment decision on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, worth about $8 billion, while compatriot Bechtel officially started construction on the project in October of the same year.

The project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.

In March 2025, Cheniere achieved substantial completion of the first liquefaction train at the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, while the company completed the second liquefaction train in August.

Cheniere said in its second-quarter results that it still expects substantial completion of Train 3 and first LNG from Train 4 before the year-end of 2025.

The Stage 3 expansion project was 89.3 percent complete as of the end of August.

In addition to this expansion, Cheniere made a positive final investment decision to build two more midscale trains at its Corpus Christi LNG plant in June this year.

The CCL midscale trains 8 and 9 project is being built adjacent to the Corpus Christi Stage 3 project and consists of two midscale trains with an expected total liquefaction capacity of over mtpa of LNG and other debottlenecking infrastructure.

Upon completion of the project, and together with expected debottlenecking and CCL Stage 3, the Corpus Christi LNG terminal is expected to reach over 30 mtpa in total liquefaction capacity later this decade, according to Cheniere.