$10 billion US LNG project comes online in Texas: One train down, two more left on McDermott and Chiyoda’s list

April 1, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

The main engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the United States, U.S.-headquartered McDermott (MDR) and Chiyoda International Corporation (CIC), have finished work on the first train and have two more on their agenda for this LNG export terminal under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas.

The two players have substantially completed construction and commissioning of Train 1 of the Golden Pass LNG project in Texas, enabling the terminal’s start-up operations and the achievement of first LNG, which is seen as a landmark milestone in the delivery of one of North America’s most significant LNG developments.

McDermott claims that reaching first LNG represents a major step forward in the project lifecycle, reflecting the culmination of years of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. The company serves as the lead partner of the joint venture responsible for the delivery of three LNG trains.

Michael McKelvy, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board for McDermott, commented: “This is a defining moment for the Golden Pass LNG Project and a significant achievement for McDermott, our partner Chiyoda and Golden Pass LNG.

“Reaching first LNG demonstrates the strength of our execution capabilities, the resilience of our teams and our ability to safely deliver complex LNG infrastructure that supports global energy needs.”

Following the first LNG on Train 1, the two contractors will continue progressing the Golden Pass LNG project as construction and commissioning work on trains 2 and 3 continues. Golden Pass LNG is a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%).

First LNG is interpreted to pave the way for the project to deliver its first cargo, achieve sustained liquefaction operations, and meet its commercial and strategic objectives. The achievement also marks an important milestone for Golden Pass LNG’s shareholders, highlighting the project’s strategic role in strengthening global energy supply and advancing long-term LNG growth.

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Alex Savva, President and CEO of Golden Pass, underlined: “Today, we began producing LNG at our terminal in Sabine Pass, marking the completion of a significant effort to construct, commission, and start up the first LNG Train and the beginning of operating a world-class facility with an exceptional team.

“This remarkable step was achieved through the unwavering dedication of our employees, commitment of our shareholders, and the strength of our partnerships.”

The beginning of LNG exports to global customers is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2026, which is seen as a welcome development given the current conflict in the Middle East, which is affecting the safety of the people in the region, global energy markets, and the economy at large.

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Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, highlighted: “First LNG is of a particular importance for one of the largest single investment decisions in U.S. LNG history.

“The operational phase and market entry of Golden Pass LNG will come at an important time when global energy security ranks very high on energy agendas worldwide. We look forward to the safe and successful start of export operations.”

The project entails three liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 18.1 million tons per year (mtpa), five 155,000 cubic meters (cbm) LNG storage tanks, and two marine berths to accommodate big LNG carriers. This is QatarEnergy’s largest investment in the United States.

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Al-Kaabi continued: “Golden Pass LNG is part of a wider QatarEnergy strategy for international investments that we have been planning over the past decade. It also represents a significant part of the plans announced by QatarEnergy in 2018 to invest 20 billion dollars in the U.S. energy sector.

“We are now seeing the first fruits of this far-sighted strategy with the start of Golden Pass LNG, which will play an important role in supporting global energy security and a fair and balanced access to cleaner energy.”

ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy announced their final investment decision (FID), worth more than $10 billion, for the development of the Golden Pass LNG export project in February 2019.

Jeremy Horn, Vice President of Operations for Golden Pass, underscored: “I am proud of our team and their tireless work to ensure we safely reached this milestone. We are excited to go to work delivering Texas LNG to power the world.”