Global LNG exports from the project are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, according to QatarEnergy.

Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, achieved the first production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the first of three trains comprising the 18 million tonnes per annum project.

“First LNG sets the stage for Golden Pass LNG to deliver its first cargo from its facilities located in Sabine Pass, Texas, by achieving sustained liquefaction operations, and meeting its commercial and strategic objectives,” QatarEnergy said in a statement on Monday.

Golden Pass LNG is a partnership between QatarEnergy at 70 percent and ExxonMobil at 30 percent. Both companies had announced their final investment decision of more than $10bn (around QAR 36.53bn) for developing the Golden Pass LNG export project in February 2019.

In October 2022, QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil agreed to independently offtake and market their respective proportionate equity shares of LNG from the project. Under that arrangement, QatarEnergy Trading, a wholly owned subsidiary of QatarEnergy, took responsibility for offtaking, transporting and trading QatarEnergy’s 70 percent share.

Global LNG exports from the project are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, according to QatarEnergy.

Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Al-Kaabi, described the first LNG production from the Texas facility as one “of a particular importance for one of the largest single investment decisions in U.S. LNG history”.

“The operational phase and market entry of Golden Pass LNG will come at an important time when global energy security ranks very high on energy agendas worldwide. We look forward to the safe and successful start of export operations,” Al-Kaabi, who is also QatarEnergy’s President and CEO, said in the statement.

He noted that Golden Pass LNG “represents a significant part of the plans announced by QatarEnergy” in 2018 to invest $20bn (around QAR 73.07bn) in the U.S. energy sector. 

“We are now seeing the first fruits of this far-sighted strategy with the start of Golden Pass LNG, which will play an important role in supporting global energy security and a fair and balanced access to cleaner energy,” Al-Kaabi said.

“I would like to voice gratitude to the management and all employees at Golden Pass LNG as well as the teams at QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil for their dedication and commitment, which are key to helping deliver on our energy commitment,” he added.