'Golden Pass LNG first liquefaction train scheduled to come online by 2024'

The first liquefaction train of the Golden Pass LNG liquefication and export terminal in Sabine, Texas, a $10bn joint-venture formed by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil, is scheduled to come online by 2024, a webinar hosted by US-Qatar Business Council (USQBC) was told recently.

The webinar titled ‘How will LNG drive a sustainable energy world?’ and hosted by the USQBC featured a discussion involving HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, chairman of the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development and Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar. On the panel, al-Attiyah was joined by esteemed industry experts including Marianne Kah, adjunct senior research scholar and advisory board member of the Center on Global Energy Policy, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University; Mohamed Barakat, managing director, USQBC, and Dominic Genetti, president, ExxonMobil Qatar.“Liquefied natural gas is a critical bridge fuel to a green energy economy,” al-Attiyah said. “The task now is to meet global LNG demand and ensure facilities adhere to the highest sustainability standards.”Qatar and the US have shared a deep, long-lasting history and partnership in the oil and gas sector. This partnership, among others, has resulted in Qatar becoming the top LNG exporter in the world. Some of the US’ largest oil and gas companies are present in Qatar including ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron. With the North Field Expansion (NFE) project already underway, LNG production is expected to increase 43% by 2025 and 64% by 2027. “Natural gas shows promise as a pathway to creating a more sustainable, and lower carbon future as long as methane emissions are minimised,” said Marianne Kah. “When countries switch from higher carbon fuels to natural gas, it provides a reliable fuel supply during the energy transition."Global gas demand is forecasted to grow 3.4% per annum to 2035 with many LNG related investment projects currently planned and already underway. “I was pleased to join the US-Qatar Business Council webinar on energy and environmental sustainability. This is an important topic which requires co-operation between governments and industry to identify sustainable solutions for the environment and global economy. It was inspiring to discuss potential business models and initiatives with colleagues and partners, particularly how the intersection of good government policy, business innovation, and technology can accelerate progress,” said Dominic Genetti.Both Qatar and the US have demonstrated sustained commitment to being responsible LNG producers. In April, Qatar and the US, and a few other select countries founded the Net-Zero Producers Forum, a platform dedicated to developing net-zero emission strategies. “Qatar and the US have a rich history of partnership in the development, production, and export of LNG,” said Mohamed Barakat. “Through continual innovation and the use of industry-leading technologies, Qatar and the US continually reaffirm their position as global leaders in energy sustainability.” In January 2021, Qatar Petroleum unveiled its Sustainability Strategy, which establishes several targets in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. It mandates the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facilities to capture more than 7mn tonnes of CO2 per annum in Qatar. The strategy also sets a direction towards cutting down the emissions intensity of the country’s LNG facilities by 25% and of its upstream facilities by at least 15%, while also reducing flare intensity across upstream facilities by over 75%.