Plaquemines LNG: A Historic Milestone in U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Production

Venture Global announces the start of production at its second terminal, Plaquemines LNG, in Louisiana. This project, one of the fastest to achieve this critical milestone, marks a major advancement for the U.S. and global energy markets.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Venture Global, a key player in the energy market, confirmed on December 15, 2024, the start of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Plaquemines LNG terminal, located in Port Sulphur, Louisiana. This terminal, with a nameplate capacity of 20 million tons per year (MTPA), achieved this strategic milestone just 30 months after its Final Investment Decision (FID).

With this record-breaking speed, Plaquemines LNG joins Venture Global’s first terminal, Calcasieu Pass, as one of the two fastest greenfield projects to reach production. Once fully operational, Plaquemines LNG will rank among the largest LNG production facilities in the world.

An Innovation and Speed Model

Plaquemines LNG’s success is built on a unique technical configuration and an innovative construction approach. Unlike traditional projects, this facility is already producing and exporting LNG while construction and commissioning of the 36 trains and associated infrastructure continue. This strategy allows Venture Global to bring new capacity to a global market strained for LNG supply.

The project progressed in two phases, with FIDs in May 2022 for Phase 1 and March 2023 for Phase 2. This modular and phased operational management enables quicker responses to growing demand while reducing commissioning delays.

Economic and Geopolitical Impact

The Plaquemines LNG terminal is part of Venture Global’s broader investment strategy, with current and future projects representing a $50 billion commitment. These projects aim to bolster global energy security while supporting local economies and creating thousands of jobs across the United States.

At the same time, this increased capacity helps maintain the United States’ position as the world’s top LNG exporter. Amid tight markets and delays on other international projects, Plaquemines LNG is a strategic asset in providing reliable energy to U.S. allies.

The rapid development of this facility also reflects shifting geopolitical priorities. Energy supply has become a central issue, particularly in response to recent global LNG market imbalances and challenges posed by international crises.

An explosion on December 10 on the Escravos–Lagos pipeline forced NNPC to suspend operations, disrupting a crucial network supplying gas to power stations in southwestern Nigeria.
At an international forum, Turkmenistan hosted several regional leaders to discuss commercial cooperation, with a strong focus on gas and alternative export corridors.
The Australian government has launched the opening of five offshore gas exploration blocks in the Otway Basin, highlighting a clear priority for southeast supply security amid risks of shortages by 2028, despite an ambitious official climate policy.
BlackRock sold 7.1% of Spanish company Naturgy for €1.7bn ($1.99bn) through an accelerated bookbuild managed by JPMorgan, reducing its stake to 11.42%.
The British company begins the initial production phase of Morocco's Tendrara gas field, activating a ten-year contract with Afriquia Gaz amid phased technical investments.
The Energy Information Administration revises its gas price estimates upward for late 2025 and early 2026, in response to strong consumption linked to a December cold snap.
Venture Global denies Shell’s claims of fraud in an LNG cargo arbitration and accuses the oil major of breaching arbitration confidentiality.
The Valera LNG carrier delivered a shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Portovaya, establishing a new energy route between Russia and China outside Western regulatory reach.
South Stream Transport B.V., operator of the offshore section of the TurkStream pipeline, has moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to Budapest to protect itself from further legal seizures amid ongoing sanctions and disputes linked to Ukraine.
US LNG exports are increasingly bypassing the Panama Canal in favour of Europe, seen as a more attractive market than Asia in terms of pricing, liquidity and logistical reliability.
Indian Oil Corporation has issued a tender for a spot LNG cargo to be delivered in January 2026 to Dahej, as Asian demand weakens and Western restrictions on Russian gas intensify.
McDermott has secured a major engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning contract for a strategic subsea gas development offshore Brunei, strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The partnership between Fluor and JGC has handed over LNG Canada's second liquefaction unit, completing the first phase of the major gas project on Canada’s west coast.
Northern Oil and Gas and Infinity Natural Resources invest $1.2bn to acquire Utica gas and infrastructure assets in Ohio, strengthening NOG’s gas profile through vertical integration and high growth potential.
China has received its first liquefied natural gas shipment from Russia’s Portovaya facility, despite growing international sanctions targeting Russian energy exports.
Brazil’s natural gas market liberalisation has led to the migration of 13.3 million cubic metres per day, dominated by the ceramics and steel sectors, disrupting the national competitive balance.
Sasol has launched a new gas processing facility in Mozambique to secure fuel supply for the Temane thermal power plant and support the national power grid’s expansion.
With the addition of Nguya FLNG to Tango, Eni secures 3 mtpa of capacity in Congo, locking in non-Russian volumes for Italy and positioning Brazzaville within the ranks of visible African LNG exporters.
Japan’s JERA has signed a liquefied natural gas supply contract with India’s Torrent Power for four cargoes annually from 2027, marking a shift in its LNG portfolio toward South Asia.
The merger of TotalEnergies and Repsol’s UK assets into NEO NEXT+ creates a 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day operator, repositioning the majors in response to the UK’s fiscal regime and basin decline.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.