The third of seven liquefaction trains at US producer Cheniere's 11.45mn t/yr Corpus Christi stage three expansion project produced its first LNG this week, the firm told Argus today.
Cheniere began commissioning the third train in mid-August. The time between the start of commissioning and first LNG was much quicker than with the project's first and second trains, which produced LNG in December and June, respectively — both about three months after the start of commissioning.
Cheniere said that the third train will be "substantially completed" — when Betchel, the project's engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, hands control of the train to Cheniere — this year.
Cheniere also aims to produce first LNG from the project's fourth liquefaction train by the end of the year. This is an accelerated timeline compared with that outlined by chief executive Jack Fusco in May, who said that the fourth train would only begin commissioning by the end of the year.
The seven-train project, which expands the existing 17.4mn t/yr Corpus Christi terminal, is scheduled to ramp up production through 2026.
