The engineering firm Bechtel Corp. obtained a notice to proceed with the construction of the third liquefaction train at Cheniere Energy Inc.'s Corpus Christi LNG export project.

Bechtel is Cheniere's engineering, procurement and construction partner for the Corpus Christi terminal, which is designed to have five liquefaction trains with overall LNG production capacity of up to 22.5 million tonnes per annum.

Bechtel got the go-signal to construct the third train along with an LNG tank and the completion of a second LNG loading berth, which would add 4.5 mtpa of capacity to the facility.

The U.S. LNG export pioneer in May reached a final investment decision on the third train and said it would issue a notice to proceed to Bechtel by the first half of the year, after it closes an arrangement with financial institutions to upsize its credit facilities.