Federal government assisting LNG company in obtaining FERC authorization for a $20 billion venture
In Brownsville, Texas, the Rio Grande LNG project, a potential contender for one of the largest LNG export facilities globally, is making significant strides. As of August 2025, the project is progressing with notable milestones, but it is yet to receive the final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) [5].
NextDecade LLC, the project's developer, took the final investment decision (FID) for the first three LNG trains in July 2023, backed by $18.4 billion in project financing and long-term LNG sale agreements covering most of the 17.6 million tons per annum (mtpa) capacity of Phase 1 [1]. The company plans to decide on the fourth and fifth trains’ FID by mid-September 2025, contingent on commercial support and financing [1]. EPC contracts for Trains 4 and 5, worth $9.09 billion, were finalized earlier in 2025 [1].
The construction timeline for Phase 1 (first three trains) is active, with anticipation that construction-related contracts and financing for additional trains will follow once FID is taken.
On the job creation front, LNG projects of this scale typically generate thousands of direct jobs during peak construction and substantial permanent employment during operation. Although exact figures from 2025 are not quoted in the recent sources, the size of the Rio Grande LNG project and its multi-train expansion imply a significant employment impact regionally.
The pipeline, part of the Rio Grande LNG project, will be approximately 137 miles long and is expected to be connected to multiple pipeline connections in the vicinity of the Agua Dulce Natural Gas Hub. A pipeline to be developed by NextDecade affiliate Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC will link the LNG terminal with plentiful natural supplies.
If approved, the proposed Rio Grande LNG facility will have the capability to produce 27 million metric tons of LNG annually. The pipeline, a substantial infrastructure project, has an estimated cost of over $2 billion.
The team representing the Rio Grande LNG project includes partner Erik J.A. Swenson (Washington, D.C.), associates Alisa Chunephisal (Washington, D.C.), Islara Irgit (Houston), Mariah Johnston (New York), Jessica Rodriguez (Houston), Chen Zhang (Houston), and senior associate Katherine Tapley (San Antonio).
NextDecade aims to make a final investment decision on the Rio Grande LNG project and receive FERC approval in 2017. Commercial exports from the Rio Grande LNG project are expected to begin by the end of 2020, if approved. The project's progress depends on regulatory approvals and financing milestones now targeted for late 2025 [1][5].
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