The joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, Golden Pass LNG, has started liquefied natural gas production from the first of three LNG trains comprising the 18 million tons per annum project.

The move sets the stage for Golden Pass LNG to deliver its first cargo from its facilities located in Sabine Pass, Texas, QatarEnergy said in a statement Monday.

Global LNG exports from the project are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

The company said this represents a “major milestone” towards full operations of its LNG production and export facilities.

Golden Pass LNG is a partnership between QatarEnergy (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%). The two companies had announced their final investment decision of more than 10 billion dollars for developing the Golden Pass LNG export project in February 2019.

Qatar energy minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, who is also president and chief executive of QatarEnergy, said: “First LNG is of a particular importance for one of the largest single investment decisions in U.S. LNG history.

“The operational phase and market entry of Golden Pass LNG will come at an important time when global energy security ranks very high on energy agendas worldwide. We look forward to the safe and successful start of export operations.”

Al-Kaabi added: “Golden Pass LNG is part of a wider QatarEnergy strategy for international investments that we have been planning over the past decade. It also represents a significant part of the plans announced by QatarEnergy in 2018 to invest 20 billion dollars in the U.S. energy sector.”