US 8th LNG Export Terminal Plaquemines LNG Ships First Cargo

(Editors at Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Jan.2025) — Plaquemines LNG, the US 8th liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, shipped its initial cargo on 26 Dec. 2024 just after achieving first LNG production in mid-Dec. 2024. 

Plaquemines LNG is 1 of only 2 US LNG export terminals to start producing LNG in 2024, Energy Information Administration (EIA) analyst Victoria Zaretskaya wrote 13 Jan. 2025 in a report. 

RELATED: Plaquemines LNG Achieves First LNG Production in Louisiana

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The other terminal, Corpus Christi Stage 3, which was an expansion of the existing Corpus Christi LNG export terminal, also started producing LNG in  Dec. 2024.

Plaquemines LNG is the second US facility after Calcasieu Pass LNG to utilize mid-scale liquefaction technology, which contributes to a shorter project construction timeline. 

“The developer of both these export terminals—Venture Global LNG—plans to bring Plaquemines LNG online in two phases. Each phase consists of nine blocks, and each block contains 2 liquefaction units called trains for a total of 18 liquefaction trains with a combined nominal capacity of 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and peak capacity of 1.6 Bcf/d,” Zaretskaya wrote in the reported published on EIA’s website.

With completion of both phases of Plaquemines LNG, the total nominal capacity of this facility will be 2.6 Bcf/d (3.2 Bcf/d peak). 

“Plaquemines LNG started LNG production and shipped its first Phase 1 cargo some 30 months after Venture Global made a final investment decision, a timeframe for construction similar to that of Calcasieu Pass LNG, which was the fastest built of all the LNG export projects in the United States.”

RELATED: Venture Global and Cheniere Energy Seen Ushering in Next US LNG Wave

Both export facilities followed similar construction timelines to achieve first LNG production, according to the EIA.

Venture Global LNG plans to commission and start exporting LNG from Plaquemines Phase 2 in Sep. 2025.

“Once both phases of Plaquemines LNG are completed and Corpus Christi LNG Stage 3 starts LNG exports, we estimate LNG nominal production capacity in the United States will total 15.4 Bcf/d (18.7 Bcf/d peak),” Zaretskaya wrote in the report. “We estimate nominal LNG export capacity will expand to 21.2 Bcf/d (25.2 Bcf/d peak) by 2028 once three other US LNG export projects currently under construction—Golden Pass LNG, Rio Grande LNG, and Port Arthur LNG—are completed.”

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By Editors at Energy Analytics Institute. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.