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36 min ago 3 min read
US energy company Caturus plans to add 7.75 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity through a five-train expansion at its Commonwealth LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
The expansion is set to nearly double the site’s planned capacity to around 17.25 mtpa.
This is in line with intelligence firm S&P Global Energy’s projection that US LNG export capacity will over the next five years, making LNG the country’s second-largest net export industry.
In May, Caturus a final investment decision (FID) on its six-train, 9.5 mtpa Commonwealth LNG facility, closing $9.75bn in base project financing.
The first phase of the project is expected to start operations in 2030, generating more than $3bn in annual export revenue, with the expansion project expected to start operations in the early 2030s.
David Lawler, CEO of Caturus, said, “By capitalising on the momentum at Commonwealth LNG…we’re creating…a clear path for continued growth well into the next decade.”
The company reported that approximately 8.5 mtpa of the base project’s 9.5 mtpa capacity is secured through long-term sale and purchase agreements.
“Global energy demand continues to grow for more reliable, affordable energy, and the US is in a position to supply it,” added Lawler.
US LNG demand
While speaking at in Bangkok this week, according to Reuters, Peter Clarke, Senior Vice President of LNG at ExxonMobil Upstream, projected US LNG supply will increase to about 30% of global exports by 2030.
New analysis published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows US LNG exports averaged 17.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) in the first half (H1) of 2026, from H1 2025.
The EIA said this represents the fastest export growth rate since the US started large-scale exports in 2016.
It attributes the increase in domestic LNG exports during H1 2026 to additional volumes from startup production at new terminals and expansion at existing terminals.
In Louisiana, through a , Venture Global plans to add over 30 mtpa LNG production capacity and bring the Plaquemines LNG facility’s total capacity to more than 58 mtpa.
An increase in US LNG export capacity is set to meet increasing demand for LNG supply in Qatar, with QatarEnergy reportedly looking to lost due to Iranian attacks with long-term US deals.
