US EIA: U.S. liquefied natural gas export capacity will be world’s largest by end of 2022
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) today projected the U.S. will have the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity by the end of 2022 – a major accomplishment for U.S. energy security, American diplomacy, and the global economy.
EIA reports U.S. LNG export capacity has grown rapidly since the Lower 48 states first began exporting LNG in February 2016. In 2020, the United States became the world’s third-largest LNG exporter, behind Australia and Qatar. The completion of new LNG liquefaction trains next year at Sabine Pass and Calcasieu Pass in Louisiana will secure the U.S.’ position as the leading LNG exporter.
The following new LNG export capacity additions will come online by the end of 2022, according to announced project plans:
- Train 6 at the Sabine Pass LNG export facility. Train 6 will add up to 0.76 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of peak export capacity. Train 6 began producing LNG in late November; the first export cargo from this train is expected to be shipped before the end of 2021.
- Calcasieu Pass LNG. This new export facility has 18 liquefaction trains with a combined peak capacity of 12 million metric tons per annum (1.6 Bcf/d). Commissioning activities at Calcasieu Pass LNG started in November 2021; the first LNG production is expected before the end of this year. All liquefaction trains are expected to be operational by the end of 2022.
The nameplate, or nominal, capacity of a liquefaction facility specifies the amount of LNG produced in a calendar year under normal operating conditions, based on the engineering design of a facility. Peak LNG production capacity is the amount of LNG produced under optimal operating conditions, including modifications to production processes that increase operational efficiency.