Cheniere and Bechtel ink Corpus Christi Stage 3 EPC contract

U.S. LNG export project developer Cheniere Energy has entered into an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with LNG project manager Bechtel for its Corpus Christi Stage 3 project.

In addition, CCL Stage 3 has released Bechtel to start early engineering, procurement, and other site work at the project under limited notice to proceed (LNTP).

The Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project consists of up to seven midscale trains. Each of the trains will have a liquefaction capacity of approximately 1.49 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). A total production capacity is thus more than 10 mtpa. Therefore, the terminal’s total nominal capacity would amount to approximately 25 mtpa of LNG.

The project is commercially underpinned by long-term agreements with counterparties.

The plan for expansions also includes:

• Developing of further liquefaction growth opportunities at both Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi;
• Developing of environmental solutions opportunities along the LNG value chain.

According to Jack Fusco, Cheniere’s CEO, the company expects a Final Investment Decision to occur in summer 2022.

“The signing of this EPC contract and the issuance of LNTP mark important steps towards a FiD on the project... We are focused on the remaining steps required in order to reach FID,” he said. “The CCL 3 commences as global LNG market fundamentals highlight the criticality of natural gas in the global energy mix.”

“We look forward to providing our customers with reliable and flexible LNG from the Corpus Christi Stage III Project starting in 2025.”

“Cheniere’s award of the EPC contract for the third phase of the LNG development at the Corpus Christi complex is another important step in our long-term partnership to deliver affordable cleaner energy to the world,” said Brendan Bechtel, CEO of Bechtel.

“The industry-leading results we have helped Cheniere achieve over the last nine years are a testament to the power of a ‘One Team’ approach built upon shared goals and trust.”