A deepwater liquified natural gas port approved for licensing 10.4 miles off the Texas coast is expected to increase U.S. LNG export capacity by 7% to 9% when it comes online in 2029, according to the Maritime Administration.
Marad is portraying the approval of the ST LNG, LLC project as a major advance in the Trump administration’s project of speedier permitting, asserting that it has “slashed red tape delays by 70% – making it the fastest deepwater port license review in over 20 years.”
Estimated to be worth $8.2 billion, the LNG port off Matagorda, Texas is expected to bring 2,000 construction jobs and 855 permanent operational positions, running four 2.1 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) liquefaction systems.
“Approving the ST LNG deepwater port license, our third approval under the Trump administration, proves we can accelerate the safe development of crucial energy infrastructure that will strengthen our supply chains and drive down energy prices,” Marad Administrator Stephen M. Carmel said in announcing the Oct. 28 approval.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, and at full capacity, the port will include 20 platforms, four LNG floating storage units, four mooring systems, and 7.7 miles of pipeline.
As with the agency’s recent approval of the Blue Marlin offshore oil export port off Louisiana, the LNG location “is expected to move vessel traffic away from more congested onshore areas, reducing vessel collisions and safety risks,” according to Marad.
The feed gas for the port will come from the Tres Palacios Natural Gas Storage and Trading Hub and the Williams Markham Gas Processing Plant through an existing Transco pipeline approximately 5.6 miles northeast of the port.
