Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project approved by FERC

US LNG company Cheniere Energy has bagged approval to site, construct, and operate the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project in Texas from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

A total of up to seven midscale liquefaction trains will be developed under the Corpus Christi LNG project stage 3, which put together are expected to have a nominal production capacity of nearly 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG.

The Corpus Christi Stage 3 site is located near the three LNG trains operating or being built at the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project. Altogether, the two LNG projects are anticipated to have a total nominal production capacity of about 25mtpa.

Commenting on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, Jack Fusco – Cheniere Energy President and CEO, said: “We are pleased to receive regulatory approval from the FERC for Corpus Christi Stage 3, a critical milestone on the path to a positive final investment decision.

“Our continued progress on Corpus Christi Stage 3, including today’s regulatory approval and our continued commercial success, is a testament to the global competitiveness of the project and reinforces our confidence in our ability to expand our world-scale liquefaction platform in Corpus Christi.”

Cheniere Energy says that it is likely to make a positive final investment decision (FID) on Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project next year. The  FID will be based on giving an engineering, procurement, and construction contract (EPC contract), securing further commercial support for the 10 mtpa LNG project, and getting the required financing arrangements among other things.