NextDecade Nears First LNG Production at Rio Grande Terminal

NextDecade is preparing to begin production at its Rio Grande LNG facility near Brownsville, Texas, early next year. The 1,000-acre site lies along the Brownsville Ship Channel, roughly 160 miles south of Corpus Christi. The project has faced multiple delays since the company was founded in 2010, including a global pandemic, contract negotiations, permitting reviews, and lawsuits from environmental groups.

The first phase includes three liquefaction trains designed to supply energy for more than 20 million households.

Ten trains are planned in total, with half already under construction. The full build-out is scheduled to continue through 2036 at a rate of roughly one new train per year. When complete, the facility is expected to supply energy for 65 million households.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a shift to round-the-clock, seven-day construction in early April. The company is working with contractor Bechtel on the accelerated schedule.

U.S. natural gas exports have grown since the first LNG shipments left in early 2016. The country became the world’s largest LNG exporter after surpassing Qatar and Australia. The site was selected for its deepwater access and low vessel traffic.

“I wish we were producing LNG today, but it’s coming soon and we’re ahead of schedule.”

The company was founded by Kathleen Eisbrenner, who died in 2019. Current CEO Matt Schatzman joined in 2017 and assumed the top role in 2018.