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Equinor signs long-term LNG purchase agreement with Cheniere

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The Isabella LNG tanker
The LNG carrier “Isabella”, owned by Maran Gas, is one of the LNG vessels under contract with Equinor that may be used to transport gas from Corpus Christi, US, under the new agreement with Cheniere.
(Photo courtesy of Maran Gas)

Today, Thursday 9 June, Equinor and Cheniere have announced a 15-year purchase agreement of around 1.75 million tonnes of LNG per year starting from 2026.

This new Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) will add new volumes to Equinor’s already significant gas portfolio of pipeline gas and LNG.

With global energy demand growing and increased focus on energy security, the LNG market is expected to grow significantly. US LNG can supply the European markets as well as cover demand in other markets.

Helge Haugane - portrait
Helge Haugane, Equinor’s senior vice president Gas & Power.
(Photo: Arne Reidar Mortensen / Equinor ASA)

“I am very pleased that we have entered into a long-term agreement with Cheniere, the US’ largest producer of LNG. Based on our production in Norway, Equinor is the second largest supplier of pipeline gas to Europe. The new LNG agreement is a major building block in Equinor’s ambition to further strengthen our global gas position by adding more LNG to the portfolio. LNG will play a crucial role in providing energy security. By increasing our position in this segment, we will be even better positioned as a long-term reliable supplier of energy, said Helge Haugane, Equinor’s senior vice president Gas & Power.

Under the SPA, Equinor has agreed to purchase approximately 1.75 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG from Cheniere Marketing on a free-on-board basis for a term of approximately 15 years.

The deliveries under the SPA will start in the second half of 2026 and reach the full 1.75 mtpa in the second half of 2027. Half of the volume, or approximately 0.9 mtpa, is subject to Cheniere making a positive final investment decision (“FID”) to construct additional liquefaction capacity at the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal beyond the seven-train Corpus Christi Stage III Project.

About Equinor

Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s purpose is to turn natural resources into energy for people and progress for society. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Equinor is the second largest exporter of pipeline gas to Europe and operator of Europe’s only large-scale LNG plant at Hammerfest, Norway. Headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf, present in around 30 countries worldwide.

About Cheniere

Cheniere Energy, Inc. is the leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the United States, reliably providing a clean, secure, and affordable solution to the growing global need for natural gas. Cheniere is a full-service LNG provider, with capabilities that include gas procurement and transportation, liquefaction, vessel chartering, and LNG delivery. Cheniere has one of the largest liquefaction platforms in the world, consisting of the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi liquefaction facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, with total production capacity of approximately 45 mtpa of LNG in operation. Cheniere is also pursuing liquefaction expansion opportunities and other projects along the LNG value chain. Cheniere is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and has additional offices in London, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.

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