ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy’s joint venture Golden Pass LNG has requested permission from US regulators to re-export LNG beginning in October, Reuters reported on July 3.

In the filing, the company asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to re-export a cargo of the super-chilled fuel which it will use in the cool down phase, typically the last step before beginning production of LNG.

The massive 18mn tonnes per year (tpy) facility located in Sabine Pass has gone through a roller coaster ride to reach the export stage.

In March, the joint partners received an export extension pushing back the deadline to begin exports from September 30 to March 31, 2027.

That followed a three-year construction extension that was granted in October 2024 for the completion of the huge project after primary contractor following Zachry Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a few months earlier in July.

Zachry was replaced as lead contractor by McDermott International for the facility’s Train 1, with the company currently in negotiations to assume responsibilities for the construction of Trains 2 and 3.

Switching lead contractor for the project pushed back timelines for the facility’s completion significantly with the project needing to rehire and remobilise over 4,000 skilled workers.

Rising construction costs related to a lack of skilled labour in combination with inflation due to rising wages in the Gulf Coast region is believed to have pushed the project to surpass the original budget by more than $2.4bn.

An autumn start date for exports would make Golden Pass LNG the US’s ninth export terminal as it seeks to maintain its spot as top global LNG exporter despite an expansion push from Qatar.

QatarEnergy owns a majority stake in Golden Pass LNG possessing a 70% interest, while ExxonMobil holds a 30% stake.