- QatarEnergy's Golden Pass LNG project achieved its first LNG production in Texas
- The project is a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%)
- Final investment exceeded $10 billion, with exports expected by Q2 2026
The Golden Pass LNG project, QatarEnergy's largest energy investment in the United States, has achieved its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, marking a key milestone toward full-scale operations, the company said in a post on X.
The project, a joint venture between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%), produced LNG from the first of its three trains, with a total planned capacity of 18 million tonnes per annum.
“This first LNG production paves the way for the Golden Pass LNG project to export its inaugural shipment from its facility located in Sabine Pass, Texas, through sustainable gas liquefaction operations,” the company said.
The development comes at a time when energy security remains a central concern globally.
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Commenting on the milestone, Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar's Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “The first LNG production holds great importance, as it represents one of the largest investment decisions in the history of the American LNG industry. The operational phase… comes at a time of utmost importance, where global energy security occupies a prominent place in all energy agendas.”
He added that the project is part of QatarEnergy's broader global expansion strategy and aligns with its previously announced plan to invest $20 billion in the U.S. energy sector.
“Today, we are witnessing the first fruits of this forward-looking strategy… which will play a vital role in supporting global energy security and ensuring fair and balanced access to cleaner energy,” Al-Kaabi said.
He also acknowledged the role of US regulators and partner ExxonMobil in advancing the project, alongside teams involved in its execution.
The companies had taken a final investment decision exceeding $10 billion in February 2019. LNG exports from the project are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, according to the company's statement.
The milestone comes amid severe disruptions to Qatar's domestic energy infrastructure due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
On March 2, QatarEnergy said it had halted LNG production at key facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed following military attacks, declaring force majeure on its output. “QatarEnergy values its relationships with all of its stakeholders and will continue to communicate the latest available information,” the company said at the time.
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Subsequent damage has been significant. According to comments by Al-Kaabi to Reuters on March 19, Iranian strikes knocked out about 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to sideline 12.8 million tonnes per year for up to five years.
“For production to restart, first we need hostilities to cease,” he said, adding that the scale of the damage could set the region back 10 to 20 years.
The disruption extends beyond LNG, impacting condensate, LPG, helium, and other byproducts — with ripple effects across global supply chains, from household fuel demand in India to semiconductor manufacturing in East Asia.
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