The first commissioning cargo of LNG has departed the U.S. from the first liquefaction train of Cameron LNG LLC's export terminal in Louisiana as the project approaches the start of commercial operations.

The Sempra Energy-led project will begin commercial operations when it receives approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The authorization is scheduled for mid-2019, the company said in a May 31 news release.

The first LNG shipment is part of Cameron LNG's first phase, which includes three liquefaction trains capable of exporting about 12 million tonnes per annum of LNG, or about 1.7 Bcf/d. Phase 2 is expected to add two liquefaction trains and up to two additional LNG storage tanks.

Cameron LNG on May 20 received authorization from FERC staff to export commissioning volumes from the first train. The 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.