Maritime Administration approves $8.2 billion Texas LNG project

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved a deepwater port license for the $8.2 billion ST LNG, LLC project located approximately 10.4 miles offshore Matagorda, Texas. The facility is expected to add up to 8.4 million metric tons of annual liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity.

Construction is slated to begin in 2027, with the port expected to enter service in 2029. The project is intended to move vessel traffic away from congested onshore areas to reduce safety risks and collisions. The facility will utilize feed gas from the Tres Palacios Natural Gas Storage and Trading Hub and the Williams Markham Gas Processing Plant.

The approval marks a significant test of a regulatory shift where MARAD has assumed the lead role in reviewing deepwater port applications from the U.S. Coast Guard. The review process for this project was completed in 410 days, which the Department of Transportation described as the fastest deepwater port license review in over two decades, roughly 3.7 years faster than the historical average.