The first three Corpus Christi trains have a capacity of approximately 15 mtpa.
Cheniere made the final investment decision on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, worth about $8 billion, in June 2022.
The project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of appoxmately 1.49 mtpa.
In addition, Cheniere decided in June this year to build two more midscale trains at its Corpus Christi LNG plant.
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 3 mtpa of LNG and other debottlenecking infrastructure.
Last month, Cheniere achieved substantial completion of the third liquefaction train at the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project.
Cheniere expects first LNG from Train 4 in November 2025 and substantial completion “around year-end 2025 or early 2026.”
Trains 5 – 7 are scheduled to reach substantial completion throughout 2026.
Capacity boost
Cheniere now expects these trains to produce more LNG than originally expected, and revealed more details on the expansion plans in a FERC filing dated November 14.
Cheniere’s units CCL and CCL Midscale 8-9 submitted to the FERC a request for determination by the Director of the Office of Energy Projects that the CCL entities’ anticipated application for a limited amendment to increase the LNG production capacity of the facilities authorized by the regulator is not subject to the Commission’s mandatory pre-filing procedure.
In November 2019, FERC granted an order ot the units to site, construct, and operate the Stage 3 project, consisting of midscale natural gas liquefaction trains 1-7 with a maximum annual production capacity of approximately 582.14 billion cubic feet per year (bcf/y) and associated facilities.
In March this year, the Commission authorized the CCL entities to site, construct and operate the Trains 8 & 9 project, consisting of two trains with a maximum LNG production capacity of approximately 170 bcf/y and associated facilities.
The CCL entities seek Commission authorization to increase the LNG production capacity of
Midscale Trains 1-9 by 251 bcf/y, from the currently authorized 752.14 bcf/y to approximately 1,003.14 bcf/y (CCL midscale uprate), they said.
“Based on refinements made during the final design and construction of the Stage 3 project, as well as production data gathered through commissioning, the CCL entities have more precise knowledge and insight concerning the potential production capacity of the midscale trains,” Chenere’s units said.
According to the units, rhese refinements and optimizations do not involve significant or major modifications of existing facilities, additional construction of new facilities, or additional environmental impacts.
The CCL entities anticipate filing an application with FERC pursuant to NGA Section 3 for the
CCL midscale uprate project by no later than December 5, 2025.
“Therefore, the CCL Entities respectfully request that the Director of OEP issue the waiver requested herein on an expedited basis, by no later than November 21, 2025,” the units said.