Cheniere Energy Inc. asked federal regulators for permission to introduce feed gas to the fourth liquefaction train at the Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana, as the plant moves toward an expected November in-service date.

Sabine Pass LNG LP and Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in a May 26 request for approval as soon as possible, but no later than June 2, in order for commissioning activities to remain on schedule. The developer sought a similar authorization for train 3 on Oct. 26, 2016, and received permission on Nov. 8, 2016. The third train officially entered service on March 21.

FERC on March 24 gave Sabine Pass the go-ahead to begin commissioning train 4, which has a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes per annum.

Train 1 was completed in May 2016, and train 2 received FERC approval to enter service in October 2016. Train 5 is planned for August 2019, and train 6 is fully permitted but does not have a final investment decision. (FERC dockets CP11-17, CP13-2)