FAQs

• Who is Golden Pass LNG?

  Golden Pass is a partnership of leading energy companies with a successful record of producing, shipping and marketing natural gas globally. Golden Pass includes three specific businesses located in Texas – an existing LNG import facility, an existing pipeline system and an expansion of our current facilities that will allow Golden Pass to export LNG. The Golden Pass LNG import terminal and pipeline were completed and became operational in 2010.

• What is the Golden Pass LNG export project?

  The Golden Pass LNG export project creates an opportunity to adapt existing energy infrastructure to meet global market demands, capturing benefits in the United States through jobs and investment and delivering an abundant energy resource to our trade partners. The project involves construction of natural gas liquefaction and export facilities at the existing Golden Pass LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas. The Golden Pass expansion project would utilize the existing state-of-the-art tanks, berths and pipeline infrastructure, and add new facilities for natural gas pre-treatment and liquefaction. The new project’s estimated send-out capacity would be around 16 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year. This expansion would allow Golden Pass the flexibility to import and export natural gas.

• How big of an investment is this project?

  The project would be an approximately $10 billion investment on the Gulf Coast, generating billions of dollars of economic growth at local, state and national levels and millions of dollars in taxes to local, state and federal governments. According to a study performed by The Perryman Group, Golden Pass LNG’s investment could generate approximately $31 billion in U.S. economic gains (gross product) and $4.6 billion in taxes for the U.S at local, state and national levels.

• What are the ownership percentages in the project?

  Project shareholders include affiliates of Qatar Petroleum (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%).

• What size liquefaction facility is Golden Pass building?

  The expanded facility’s estimated send-out capacity would be around 16 million tons of LNG per year.

• Is Golden Pass building the facility at the existing terminal location?

  Yes, the facility is an expansion of Golden Pass LNG’s existing infrastructure. It will sit adjacent to, and be connected with, the existing terminal, and it will utilize the existing tanks, berths and pipeline infrastructure. The expansion project will leverage the existing industrial footprint, minimizing environmental and community effects.

• Will Golden Pass still be able to import after the expansion?

  Yes, the terminal will maintain its existing import infrastructure.

• What approvals and permits were needed for the liquefaction and export project?

  The proposed project required numerous federal, state and local permits before construction and operation could begin. Federal permits must be obtained from the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. DOE permits are required for export shipments and under the Natural Gas Act. FERC has the final authority to approve the siting of facilities for import or export of natural gas.

  Golden Pass is authorized by FERC and the DOE to export to nations that have Free Trade Agreements with the United States and Non-Free Trade Agreement countries.

• How long will it take to develop, construct and begin operating the export facility?

  Construction of the export infrastructure facility is projected to take approximately five years to complete.

• What is the anticipated employment during construction?

  Golden Pass anticipates the project would support approximately 9,000 direct construction jobs over a five-year construction period, with peak construction employment reaching about 3,000 jobs. Additionally, according to a study by The Perryman Group, the project would create the equivalent of about 45,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country during the construction phase.

• When will Golden Pass begin hiring?

  Golden Pass will begin initial hiring activities for permanent positions in 2019 and will ramp up every year through 2023. The majority of our permanent hires are projected to occur between 2021 and 2023. We will publish additional details about the hiring process, timelines and open positions on our Work with Golden Pass page.

• What are the economic benefits of the project?

  The project would be an approximately $10 billion investment in infrastructure on the Gulf Coast, which would generate billions of dollars of economic growth at local, state and national levels and millions of dollars in taxes to local, state and federal governments.

  According to a study by The Perryman Group, Golden Pass’s investment could generate approximately $31 billion in U.S. economic gains (gross product) at local, state and national levels over the life of the project.

• Where will the gas you export come from?

  The natural gas would come from domestic sources.

• Where will the LNG be sold?

  Golden Pass has received approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to export LNG to countries with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and non-Free Trade Agreements (nFTA) with the United States.

• What is a free trade agreement (FTA)?

  A free trade agreement is an agreement between countries that eliminates tariffs, import quotas and preferences on most goods traded between them. Trade agreements reduce barriers to U.S. exports, protect U.S. interests and enhance the rule of law in the FTA partner country. The reduction of trade barriers and the creation of a more stable and transparent trading and investment environment make it easier and cheaper for U.S. companies to export their products and services to trading partner markets.

• With which countries does the U.S. have FTAs?

  The U.S. has FTAs in force with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, and Singapore. The United States is also in the process of negotiating a regional FTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

• Which countries fall under the non-FTA?

  All countries other than those listed as FTA countries, with the exception of those under economic sanctions by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, fall under the non-FTA.

• How is natural gas converted to LNG?

  Natural gas is converted to LNG by cooling it to -260° Fahrenheit, at which point it becomes a liquid. This process reduces the volume of natural gas by a factor of more than 600 times. This allows natural gas to be transported efficiently.

• Is LNG safe?

  Yes. LNG is the same natural gas we use in our daily lives – only liquefied so it can be transported efficiently. It is an odorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive liquid, and if spilled, LNG would not result in a slick. Absent an ignition source, LNG evaporates quickly and disperses, leaving no residue.