Update: Sabine Pass LNG set for maintenance in September

(Updated with a statement by a Cheniere spokesperson)

U.S. LNG export player Cheniere will shut down its Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas export facility in Lousiana during September for scheduled maintenance. 

“Train 1 has planned maintenance scheduled for September. The exact dates are being finalized,” a Cheniere spokesperson confirmed to LNG World News on Tuesday.

Reuters reported earlier today, citing sources close to the matter, that the Houston-based company is planning to shut down the Train 1 in September for maintenance.

Cheniere took over control of the first liquefaction train at the Sabine Pass facility in May from Bechtel. First commercial delivery is expected to occur in November when the 20-year LNG sales and purchase agreement with Shell commences.

The Sabine Pass liquefaction facility is the first of its kind to export abundant U.S. shale gas to overseas markets.

Cheniere has already shipped 18 cargoes of the chilled fuel since it dispatched the first commissioning cargo in February.

The plant’s second liquefaction train is currently undergoing commissioning and is expected to reach substantial completion in September with first cargo expected to be shipped in mid-August.

Cheniere is developing and constructing up to six liquefaction trains at Sabine Pass. Trains 3 through 5 are under construction and Train 6 is fully permitted.

Each liquefaction train is expected to have a nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 million tons per annum of LNG and current sales and purchase agreements are totaling approximately 19.75 mtpa of LNG.

LNG World News Staff