Texas Regulators Review Massive LNG Export Projects Amid Global Demand Surge

Federal regulators have started reviewing two large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects in Texas, one a proposed expansion of an existing plant near the Louisiana border and the other a potential new build near Mexico.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved separate pre-filing review requests for the Port Arthur LNG North Project in Jefferson County and the Coastal Bend LNG Project in San Patricio County. The two proposed plants are designed to add 46.2 million tons per year of LNG export capacity along the Texas Gulf Coast.

According to Sempra Infrastructure, the developer of the Port Arthur LNG project, additional LNG supplies are needed because global demand is expected to outpace supply in the early 2030s. The company plans to add 27 million tons of annual capacity near Beaumont, nearly matching the 26 million tons the site currently produces.

The Coastal Bend LNG project, located near Corpus Christi, will add liquefaction trains capable of producing 19.2 million tons per year at the existing Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center. Project developer Coastal Bend LNG LLC plans to use carbon capture and sequestration technology to lower the terminal's emissions profile.