State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the three-train Golden Pass project with a capacity of more than 18 mtpa and will offtake 70 percent of the capacity, while US energy firm ExxonMobil has a 30 percent share.
“Our Proxima systems expansion and Golden Pass LNG project both remain on track for startup around year-end, completing the last two of our 10 key 2025 startups,” Woods said on Friday during ExxonMobil’s third-quarter earnings call.
“Together, these 10 projects establish an important foundation for our 2030 earnings and cash flow growth plans. They are expected to drive more than $3 billion in earnings contributions next year at constant prices and margin,” he said.
Woods did not provide further information regarding the Golden Pass LNG start-up.
Earlier this year, he said that “we look to have first LNG by the end of this year, potentially slipping into early next year.”
Commissioing
A joint venture of Chiyoda, McDermott, and Zachry won the EPC contract to build the three Golden Pass trains worth about $10 billion next to the existing LNG import terminal in the vicinity of Sabine Pass, Texas.
However, Zachry Holdings said in May 2024 that it had filed for bankruptcy, initiating a structured exit from the Golden Pass LNG export project due to “financial challenges” related to the facility’s construction.
In November 2024, Japan’s Chiyoda and McDermott’s CB&I reached a deal with Golden Pass LNG to complete the construction of the first liquefaction train following the exit of Zachry.
In June this year, Chiyoda and McDermott signed a binding term sheet with Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, to complete the construction of the second and third liquefaction units at the giant LNG export plant in Texas.
Golden Pass LNG recently sought approval to place into service its MP 69 compressor station, as it continues to move forward with commissioning activities at its three-train LNG plant in Texas.
Before that, the regulator granted approval to GPPL to place into service its MP 33 compressor station.
Additionally, Golden Pass has recently secured approval from the US DOE to export previously imported LNG from October.
The JV requested that DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management issue an order granting GPLNG to engage in short-term exports of up to 50 Bcf of LNG, on a cumulative basis, that will have been previously imported into the US from foreign sources.
The LNG supplies will either be re-exported or regasified to be used as fuel gas at the facility.
Golden Pass LNG said in an update on October 29 that it will be receiving a cooldown cargo arriving in early December with off-loading taking place thereafter.
“This is a normal part of our planned commissioning and start-up activities as we work towards first LNG and begin to deliver clean energy from Texas to power the world,” the JV said.
Rovuma LNG
During the earnings call, Woods also addressed a question regarding Rovuma LNG in Mozambique and whether an FID (final investment decision) is expected in early 2026.
“I would say where we are at with Mozambique right now is in a very good place. We have got very strong relationships with the government there. We have got a really good project concept working our way through,” he said.
Woods said that the security situation there has “improved dramatically.”
“I think TotalEnergies just lifted their force majeure. We are looking at and are in the process of trying to do the same. So I would say that project is now moving ahead, and we feel really good about that. As does the government of Mozambique. Working very closely with TotalEnergies on that. So I think it is in a really good place,” he said.
“Just this week, we had the president and his team here on the campus and took them through what we are doing here and showed them some of our capabilities. It was a really productive session. I think both of us got a lot out of it,” Woods said.
Last year, Houston-based McDermott, through a consortium with Italy’s Saipem and China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, won the FEED contract for the Rovuma LNG project.
In addition, France’s Technip Energies and Japan’s JGC also announced the FEED award for the project.
The two joint ventures are competing to win the EPC contract.
Mozambique Rovuma Venture (MRV), which, besides ExxonMobil, includes Italy’s Eni and China’s CNPC, is developing the project.
MRV operates the deepwater Area 4 block in the Rovuma basin off Mozambique, which will feed the planned LNG export plant on the Afungi peninsula from the Mamba reservoirs.
The joint venture holds a 70 percent interest in the Area 4 exploration and production concession contract.
In addition to MRV, Galp, Kogas, and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos each hold a 10 percent interest in Area 4.
ExxonMobil is leading the construction and operation of the liquefaction and related facilities on behalf of MRV, and Eni is leading the construction and operation of the upstream facilities.
