The Sempra Energy-led Cameron LNG export terminal started commercial operations under the facility's tolling agreements, the company announced Aug. 19.
The development, which was expected, marked a key milestone for Sempra as it pursues a goal of becoming one of the top LNG exporters in North America. Executives said during an Aug. 2 earnings call that the second and third trains at Cameron LNG remain on schedule to start up in 2020.
"This is an exciting moment for Cameron LNG and for Sempra Energy," Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, chairman and CEO of Sempra North American Infrastructure, said in a statement. "Cameron LNG is exporting liquefied natural gas to customers in the largest world markets, helping to support economic growth in the U.S. and abroad."
Startup of the second and third trains would bring the estimated total off-take capacity to 12 million tonnes per annum, completing the first $10 billion phase of the project.
The Cameron LNG project is jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG LLC, Total SA, Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and a company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Corp. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha.
