Cheniere Energy, Inc. announced that the first commissioning cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has loaded and departed from its Corpus Christi liquefaction facility in Texas, marking the first export of LNG from the state and from a greenfield liquefaction facility in the lower 48 states. The LNG was loaded on the LNG carrier Maria Energy, chartered by Cheniere Marketing, LLP.

“Exporting the first commissioning cargo of LNG from Texas demonstrates Cheniere’s ability to deliver projects safely and ahead of schedule, including the first greenfield LNG export facility in the lower 48 states,” said Jack Fusco, Cheniere’s President and CEO. “This milestone further reinforces Cheniere’s position as the leader in U.S. LNG, with a world-scale liquefaction platform that provides significant competitive advantages as we continue to execute on our growth strategy.”

The Corpus Christi liquefaction facility consists of three large-scale LNG production units -- or trains -- and supporting infrastructure, with an additional seven smaller trains proposed. The facility’s first train produced first LNG in November and is expected to reach substantial completion in the first quarter of 2019. Train 2 is expected to reach substantial completion in the second half of 2019, and Train 3 in the second half of 2021. The facility will also feature three LNG storage tanks with capacity of approximately 10.1 billion cubic feet equivalent and two marine berths. The seven smaller trains currently under development would increase the facility’s total expected nominal production capacity to approximately 23 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

About Cheniere

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE American: LNG) is the leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the United States, reliably providing a clean, secure, and affordable solution to the growing global need for natural gas. Cheniere is a full-service LNG provider, with capabilities that include gas procurement and transportation, liquefaction, vessel chartering, and LNG delivery. Cheniere has one of the largest liquefaction platforms in the world, consisting of the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi liquefaction facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, with expected aggregate nominal production capacity of 36 million tonnes per annum of LNG operating or under construction. Cheniere is also pursuing liquefaction expansion opportunities and other projects along the LNG value chain. Cheniere is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and has additional offices in London, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.