The 25 mpta facility currently has five operating trains and is adding an additional unit that will increase the overall capacity to 580 LNG cargoes annually.

“After consulting with our team of weather, safety, operations and security teams, Cheniere management has decided to activate emergency plans to evacuate personnel and temporarily suspend operations at Sabine Pass as a result of the approaching hurricane,” Cheniere stated.

Hurricane Laura is gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico, which could transform into a tropical hurricane in Category 3.

This means maximum 115 miles of sustained wind per hour.

“There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge with large and dangerous waves producing potentially catastrophic damage from San Luis Pass, Texas, to the Mouth of the Mississippi River, including areas inside the Port Arthur Hurricane Flood Protection system,” the NHC said.

The surge could stretch from the immediate coastline in southwestern Louisiana and far southeast Texas to up to 30 miles inland.

In addition to the Sabine Pass terminal at Cheniere, the affected area hosts two other LNG export plants.

Freeport LNG is not preparing to shut down its Texas facility, saying changes will be made where necessary.

Maritime Business World