Cheniere Advances Sabine Pass Expansion with Bechtel EPC Contract

Cheniere has awarded Bechtel an EPC contract for the first phase of its Sabine Pass LNG expansion project, moving forward with plans to add new liquefaction capacity in Louisiana.

(P&GJ) — Cheniere Energy Partners has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement with Bechtel for the first phase of its Sabine Pass LNG expansion project in Louisiana, advancing plans to add new liquefaction capacity at the export terminal.

The initial phase of the project includes construction of Train 7, a boil-off gas re-liquefaction unit and related infrastructure tied into the existing Sabine Pass facility. Cheniere said the first phase is expected to add more than 6 million metric tons per year (MMtpy) of LNG production capacity, including debottlenecking improvements.

The broader Sabine Pass expansion is designed to support up to three additional liquefaction trains with total peak capacity reaching approximately 20 MMtpy. Cheniere also issued Bechtel a limited notice to proceed, allowing early engineering and procurement work to begin ahead of a final investment decision.

Federal approvals for the project remain pending, including applications before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy related to construction and LNG exports. Cheniere said it expects to reach a final investment decision on the first phase by early 2027.

Cheniere CEO Jack Fusco said the EPC agreement and limited notice to proceed represent important milestones as the company advances the expansion project. He said the additional capacity is intended to help meet growing global demand for reliable LNG supply.