NextDecade Corp. provided updates on the Phase 1 construction currently underway of Rio Grande LNG.

The project received the necessary authorizations for construction from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy, NextDecade said in a Nov. 7 press release.

Phase 1 development includes liquefaction Trains 1, 2 and 3, with a total capacity of 17.61 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

For the facility’s Trains 4 and 5, the company is awaiting a positive final investment decision (FID), which is still subject to maintaining government approvals and finalizing and entering into engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, among other things, NextDecade said.

NextDecade said its advancing commercial discussions with potential counterparties “to finalize commercial arrangements for Train 4 in the coming months to support an FID on Train 4.”

On May 20, the company signed an LNG sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with ADNOC for 1.9 mtpa of LNG from Train 4.

Additionally, Aramco entered June 13 into a heads of agreement for the sale of 1.2 mtpa of LNG from Train 4, but a finalized binding sale and purchase agreement is in the works.

The company also anticipates TotalEnergies will exercise its option to purchase 1.5 mtpa of LNG from Train 4.

NextDecade expects to begin the EPC contracting process for Train 5 after a positive FID on Train 4.

As of September 2024, construction of Trains 1, 2 and 3 is on schedule, NextDecade reported.

For Train 1, foundation pours continued throughout the third-quarter, including work on compressor foundations. Train 2 completed its first concrete pour while equipment relocation for deep soil mixing is in process for Train 3, NextDecade said.

Phase 1 development also involves the construction of two LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 180,000 cubic meters (cu. m).

Plans for the facility's marine infrastructure include two jetty structures designed to accommodate LNG carriers with capacities of up to 216,000 cu. m.

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