QatarEnergy has marked a major development in its international operations with the export of the first liquefied natural gas cargo from the Golden Pass LNG project in Sabine Pass, Texas, a joint venture with ExxonMobil.
The milestone cargo was loaded onto the Al-Qaiyyah LNG carrier, a vessel recently constructed in South Korea with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters. The shipment signals the start of export activity from the long-awaited project and sets the stage for broader commercial operations in the coming months.
Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and chief executive of QatarEnergy, described the development as a key moment for the company’s global expansion. He said the launch of exports reflects growing demand for LNG and highlights QatarEnergy’s role in maintaining stable energy supplies to international markets.
The Golden Pass LNG project represents one of the largest investments in the history of the U.S. LNG sector. QatarEnergy holds a 70 percent stake in the venture, while ExxonMobil owns the remaining 30 percent. The partners approved the project in 2019 with an investment exceeding $10 billion, aiming to strengthen export capacity from the United States.
Located in Sabine Pass, the facility is designed to produce up to 18 million tonnes of LNG annually once fully operational. A significant portion of this output, around 70 percent, will be handled by QatarEnergy Trading, the company’s dedicated LNG marketing and trading arm.
The project achieved its first LNG production on March 30, 2026, when the initial processing unit, known as a train, began sustained liquefaction operations. Two additional trains are expected to come online later, increasing overall capacity and supporting long-term supply commitments.
Industry observers view the launch as an important step in diversifying global energy supply chains, particularly at a time when demand for LNG continues to rise across Asia and Europe. The addition of new export volumes from the United States is expected to ease pressure on markets facing supply disruptions and shifting geopolitical conditions.
For QatarEnergy, the first shipment from Golden Pass strengthens its presence beyond the Middle East and reinforces its strategy of expanding into key energy markets through partnerships and large-scale infrastructure projects.
The company said the start of exports will complement its existing LNG portfolio and contribute to the continued growth of its trading operations, as it seeks to meet increasing global energy needs.
