Cheniere approves Corpus Christi LNG expansion, advancing U.S. energy exports with plans to reach 90 mtpa through phased development.
Cheniere Energy has officially approved the final investment decision (FID) to move forward with the expansion of its Corpus Christi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. This strategic decision boosted the company's shares by 2.4% in afternoon trading. As part of the expansion, engineering and construction firm Bechtel Energy has been authorized to begin work on CCL Midscale Trains 8 and 9, marking the next phase of growth for the LNG facility.
The expansion is a significant step in Cheniere’s long-term goal of doubling its current LNG production capacity from existing levels to 90 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa). This growth will be achieved through additional export infrastructure at both the Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass terminals.
Cheniere announced that it is actively working on brownfield expansions at both terminals and plans to implement them in a phased manner. The initial phase includes single-train expansions at each location. If executed as planned, this would increase Cheniere’s total LNG production platform to approximately 75 mtpa by the early 2030s. The expansion builds on the recent completion of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 project and involves planned equipment upgrades to increase output.
The United States, already the world’s largest LNG exporter, continues to gain momentum in the global energy market. This expansion comes amid a favorable regulatory environment following the lifting of a moratorium on new LNG export permits by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office. Cheniere has since indicated a strong commitment to securing additional regulatory approvals, with aggressive plans laid out earlier this year to grow its export capacity.
In line with these growth ambitions, Cheniere plans to deploy over $25 billion in available capital through the end of this decade. These funds will be directed toward strategic growth initiatives, share repurchases, balance sheet optimization, and shareholder dividends. The company also announced an upward revision to its projected run-rate LNG production capacity, which is now estimated to be between 60 mtpa and 63 mtpa—an increase from the previous forecast of 54 mtpa to 57 mtpa.
The Corpus Christi expansion reaffirms Cheniere’s position as a leader in the LNG market and underlines its long-term commitment to meeting global energy demand through scalable infrastructure. With construction now underway and additional phases planned, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the sustained demand for cleaner-burning natural gas in international markets.
Cheniere Energy, Inc. is the leading U.S. producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), delivering a reliable, clean, and affordable energy solution to meet rising global demand. As a fully integrated LNG provider, Cheniere handles every stage of the value chain—from natural gas sourcing and transportation to liquefaction, vessel chartering, and delivery. The company operates one of the world's largest LNG production platforms, which includes the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Together, these sites offer a combined operational capacity exceeding 46 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with approximately 13 mtpa of additional capacity currently under construction.
