Venture Global LNG is the fastest-growing LNG export developer in the United States, having brought Calcasieu Pass online as the first new US LNG export terminal in years and now executing the larger Plaquemines LNG project on the same Louisiana Gulf Coast corridor. With a combined export capacity target exceeding 27 MTPA across both facilities, Venture Global LNG has positioned itself as a major force in US LNG supply — competing directly with established Gulf Coast exporters for long-term offtake commitments from European and Asian buyers.
Venture Global LNG: Company Overview
Venture Global LNG is a privately held Washington DC-based company founded in 2013 by Mike Sabel and Robert Pender. Unlike the major integrated energy companies that dominate LNG development, Venture Global was built as a pure-play LNG developer — acquiring Louisiana Gulf Coast sites, securing FERC permits, and structuring long-term supply agreements before committing to construction. Its business model centres on modular liquefaction technology using mid-scale MTPA trains rather than the large-scale trains used at facilities such as Sabine Pass and Freeport LNG, allowing faster construction timelines and phased capacity additions.
Calcasieu Pass LNG Terminal
Calcasieu Pass is Venture Global’s first operational LNG export terminal, located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana on the Calcasieu Ship Channel. The facility uses 18 modular liquefaction trains with a combined nameplate capacity of approximately 10 MTPA. Calcasieu Pass received its first LNG cargo in early 2022 and has been producing commissioning cargoes — sold on the spot market at significant margin during the European energy crisis — while the terminal completed its regulatory commissioning process. The terminal’s long-term commercial offtake agreements cover approximately 20 years with counterparties including Shell, BP, Edison, Galp, and Repsol.
The extended commissioning period at Calcasieu Pass became a source of significant commercial dispute in 2024 and 2025, with multiple offtakers including Shell, BP, and Edison filing arbitration claims against Venture Global alleging the company was withholding contracted volumes in favour of more profitable spot sales during the period of elevated European LNG prices. The disputes — seeking billions in damages — were ongoing into 2026 and represent the most significant commercial litigation in the US LNG sector in recent years.
Plaquemines LNG Terminal
Plaquemines LNG is Venture Global’s second and larger project, located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana on the west bank of the Mississippi River approximately 50 miles south of New Orleans. The facility is designed for 20 MTPA of nameplate liquefaction capacity across two phases, using the same modular train technology deployed at Calcasieu Pass but at significantly greater scale. Phase 1 construction is advanced and the facility began producing commissioning cargoes in late 2024, with full commercial operations targeted for 2026. Phase 2 involves an additional liquefaction capacity block bringing the site to its full 20 MTPA design capacity.
Plaquemines LNG’s long-term offtake agreements cover supply to European and Asian buyers including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, and Sinopec — a customer roster that reflects the global demand for US LNG supply diversification following the 2022 European energy crisis. The terminal’s Mississippi River location provides direct access to Gulf of Mexico shipping lanes and positions Plaquemines as a natural complement to Calcasieu Pass within Venture Global’s Gulf Coast operating footprint.
CP2 LNG: The Next Phase
Beyond Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemines, Venture Global has advanced development of CP2 LNG — a third facility proposed adjacent to the Calcasieu Pass site with a target capacity of approximately 20 MTPA. CP2 received a positive non-FTA export authorisation from the US Department of Energy and has secured significant customer interest, though the Biden administration’s January 2024 pause on new LNG export approvals created regulatory uncertainty that extended into 2026. CP2 would bring Venture Global’s total US export capacity to approximately 47 MTPA if fully developed — making it one of the largest LNG export portfolios in the world.
Venture Global LNG in the Global Market
Venture Global’s modular liquefaction model — faster to build, lower per-train capital cost, more flexible in phased development — has attracted significant attention from the LNG industry as an alternative to the mega-train approach used by established Gulf Coast facilities. Its ability to bring Calcasieu Pass online ahead of several larger competing projects, and to sell commissioning cargoes at spot market prices during the highest LNG price environment in history, generated substantial revenue that has funded Plaquemines construction without the debt load that larger projects typically carry.
The offtaker arbitration disputes have complicated Venture Global’s commercial relationships and may affect its ability to secure long-term contracts for CP2 on the same terms as its first two projects. For the broader US LNG export landscape, see OGSN’s top 10 LNG export terminals 2026 and the top 10 LNG terminals in the world. For the competing Gulf Coast LNG developer landscape, the Sempra LNG profile covers Port Arthur and Cameron LNG.
Company Snapshot
| Headquarters | Washington DC, USA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Ownership | Privately held — Mike Sabel & Robert Pender |
| Calcasieu Pass capacity | ~10 MTPA (18 modular trains) |
| Plaquemines LNG capacity | ~20 MTPA (two phases) |
| CP2 LNG (proposed) | ~20 MTPA |
| Combined operational target | 27+ MTPA (Calcasieu + Plaquemines) |
| Key offtakers | Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Sinopec, Edison, Repsol, Galp |
| Location | Louisiana Gulf Coast, USA |
What is Venture Global LNG and where are its terminals located?
Venture Global LNG is a privately held US LNG developer headquartered in Washington DC, operating two export terminals on the Louisiana Gulf Coast — Calcasieu Pass in Cameron Parish and Plaquemines LNG in Plaquemines Parish. A third project, CP2 LNG, is in advanced development adjacent to the Calcasieu Pass site.
How much LNG export capacity does Venture Global operate in 2026?
Venture Global’s combined operational export capacity across Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemines LNG targets approximately 27 MTPA. Calcasieu Pass has a nameplate capacity of approximately 10 MTPA across 18 modular liquefaction trains. Plaquemines LNG is designed for 20 MTPA across two phases, with Phase 1 producing commissioning cargoes from late 2024.
What is the dispute between Venture Global and its LNG offtakers?
Multiple long-term offtakers including Shell, BP, and Edison filed arbitration claims against Venture Global alleging the company withheld contracted volumes from Calcasieu Pass in favour of higher-priced spot market sales during the 2022-2023 European energy crisis. The disputes, seeking billions in damages, were ongoing into 2026 and represent the most significant commercial litigation in the US LNG sector in recent years.
What is CP2 LNG and when will it be built?
CP2 LNG is Venture Global’s proposed third liquefaction project, located adjacent to the existing Calcasieu Pass terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, with a target capacity of approximately 20 MTPA. The project received a positive DOE non-FTA export authorisation but faced regulatory uncertainty following the Biden administration’s January 2024 pause on new LNG export approvals, which extended into 2026.
Who are Venture Global LNG’s main customers?
Venture Global’s long-term offtake agreements cover supply to Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, Sinopec, Edison, Repsol, and Galp across its Calcasieu Pass and Plaquemines LNG projects. Agreements are typically structured as 20-year contracts, providing long-term revenue visibility underpinning project financing.