Last week, the developer of the Golden Pass LNG export project asked US regulators for a three-year extension to complete the construction of the $10 bill plant, claiming scheduling uncertainties.
Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%), is building an 18 mill tonne per annual LNG export project, said that a change in primary contractors required the extension until November, 2029.
Earlier last month, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy said the project startup would be delayed until late next year. The current US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval expires in November, 2026.
The company's "goal is to produce first LNG around the end of 2025 with commercial operations following thereafter," a Golden Pass LNG spokesperson said. "The extensions we have requested build in time for contingencies."
The additional time will allow for the rehiring and remobilisation of over 4,000 skilled workers and provide for potential uncertainties, such as severe weather or hurricane delays when it may not be safe to have crews on site, Golden Pass LNG told FERC in a filing.
In May, Zachry Industrial, which was the primary contractor for the project, after a dispute over $2.4 bill in cost overruns.
Golden Pass LNG subsequently appointed CB&I, a unit of McDermott International, as the lead contractor.
Construction of the first gas-processing unit is around 83% complete, and the second and third processing units are 46% and 31% complete, respectively, according to the FERC filing.
