US regulators clear construction of Rio Grande LNG trains 4, 5

By Curtis Williams

HOUSTON, March 12 (Reuters) - Federal regulators on Thursday granted approval to LNG developer Next Decade to start construction of trains 4 and 5 at its Rio Grande export plant in Texas, according to a regulatory filing.

• The approval means Next Decade can start work on two additional LNG production units, called trains, that will add 12 million metric tons of annual export capacity (mtpa) when complete.

• Next Decade is already constructing three trains at the Texas facility that will be able to produce 18 mtpa, with the first LNG expected next year.

• The company said Train 4 is commercially supported by 20-year agreements with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, TotalEnergies TTEF.PA and Saudi Aramco 2223.SE for 4.6 mtpa.

• Train 5 is commercially supported by 20-year agreements with JERA, EQT Corp EQT.N and ConocoPhillips COP.N for 4.5 mtpa.