Under the original FERC order from 2016, Golden Pass LNG was required to complete and place into service the LNG export terminal by December 21, 2021.
In response to an extension request filed by Golden Pass LNG in December 2019, FERC granted an extension of the in-service deadline until and including November 30, 2026.
In August this year, Golden Pass LNG requested that the Commission amends its prior authorizations to further extend the deadline for placing the export project facilities in service.
The JV said this period accounts for both the delays caused by the bankruptcy filing of Zachry Industrial, “remaining schedule uncertainties related to the transition to a new lead contractor (CB&I), and other possible delays outside of GPLNG’s control that may occur such as potential hurricane impacts, and for commissioning and start-up activities.”
“Based on the facts presented in the request, GPLNG is granted an extension of time until and including November 30, 2029, to complete construction of the project and make it available for service,” the FERC said in a filing dated October 24.
2025
State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the 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.
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 on May 21 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.
Golden Pass LNG told LNG Prime on July 25 that it will ramp up construction activities at the LNG terminal after a bankruptcy court approved a settlement agreement with Zachry.
After that, ExxonMobil’s CEO Darren Woods said in August that the JV expects to start LNG production at the first Golden Pass LNG train in the second half of 2025, “a 6-month slippage” from the previous estimate.
