Global LNG liquefaction capacity: 1964 (1 MTPA) → 2025 (525 MTPA) → 2030 (740 MTPA projected)

Oct 2

4 min read

21 July 2026

Key facts:

Commercial LNG trade began with CAMEL/Arzew in 1964.
Global LNG liquefaction capacity reached approximately 525 MTPA by the end of 2025—more than 500× its initial scale.
Around 300 bcm/y of additional LNG export capacity is expected by 2030, led primarily by the United States and Qatar.
The chart highlights ten projects and expansion waves that fundamentally changed LNG trade routes, production scale and the geography of global supply.

10 LNG industry milestones shown on the graph

1964 — CAMEL/Arzew, Algeria First commercial LNG plant and start of international LNG trade.

1969 — Kenai LNG, United States Opened the first trans-Pacific LNG supply route to Japan.

1977 — Bontang LNG, Indonesia Marked Indonesia's rise as the world's leading LNG exporter of its era.

1983 — Malaysia LNG, Bintulu Established Malaysia as one of the world's major LNG exporters.

1989 — North West Shelf LNG, Australia Started Australia's transformation into a global LNG powerhouse.

1997 — Qatargas 1, Qatar Began Qatar's rise to become the world's largest LNG exporter.

2009–2011 — Qatar Megatrains Six 7.8 MTPA AP-X trains established a new global benchmark for LNG train size and project scale.

2016 — Sabine Pass, United States Launched large-scale LNG exports from the US Lower 48 based on shale gas.

2025 — LNG Canada Opened Canada's first large-scale LNG export route to Asian markets.

2026–2031 — Qatar North Field Expansion North Field East, South and West are planned to increase Qatar's domestic LNG liquefaction capacity from 77 MTPA to 142 MTPA through three successive expansion phases.

The ten milestones represent selected projects that fundamentally changed the LNG industry. They are not intended to be a complete ranking of all LNG developments.

Chronology of major LNG liquefaction projects and expansion phases

1964 — CAMEL/Arzew, Algeria 1969 — Kenai LNG, United States 1970 — Marsa El Brega LNG, Libya 1972 — Brunei LNG, Brunei 1977 — Das Island/ADGAS LNG, UAE 1977 — Bontang LNG, Indonesia 1978 — Arun LNG, Indonesia 1978 — Arzew GL1Z, Algeria 1981 — Arzew GL2Z, Algeria 1983 — Malaysia LNG Satu, Malaysia 1989 — North West Shelf LNG, Australia 1993 — Bontang LNG expansion, Indonesia 1995 — Malaysia LNG Dua, Malaysia 1997 — Qatargas 1, Qatar 1999 — RasGas 1, Qatar 1999 — Atlantic LNG, Trinidad & Tobago 1999 — Nigeria LNG, Nigeria 2000 — Oman LNG, Oman 2002 — Malaysia LNG Tiga, Malaysia 2002 — Atlantic LNG Trains 2–3 expansion, Trinidad & Tobago 2003 — Nigeria LNG Train 3 expansion, Nigeria 2005 — Atlantic LNG Train 4, Trinidad & Tobago 2005 — Nigeria LNG Trains 4–5 expansion, Nigeria 2005 — Damietta LNG, Egypt 2005 — Egyptian LNG (Idku), Egypt 2006 — Darwin LNG, Australia 2007 — Equatorial Guinea LNG 2007 — Snøhvit LNG, Norway 2007 — Qalhat LNG, Oman 2009 — Tangguh LNG, Indonesia 2009 — Sakhalin-2 LNG, Russia 2009 — Yemen LNG 2009 — Qatargas 2, Qatar 2009 — RasGas 3, Qatar 2010 — Peru LNG 2010 — Qatargas 3, Qatar 2011 — Qatargas 4, Qatar 2012 — Pluto LNG, Australia 2013 — Angola LNG 2013 — Skikda GL1K, Algeria 2014 — PNG LNG, Papua New Guinea 2014 — Arzew GL3Z/Gassi Touil, Algeria 2015 — Donggi-Senoro LNG, Indonesia 2015 — Queensland Curtis LNG, Australia 2015 — Australia Pacific LNG 2015 — GLNG, Australia 2016 — Gorgon LNG, Australia 2016 — Sabine Pass LNG, United States 2017 — PETRONAS FLNG Satu, Malaysia 2017 — Wheatstone LNG, Australia 2017 — Yamal LNG, Russia 2018 — Ichthys LNG, Australia 2018 — Cove Point LNG, United States 2018 — Cameroon FLNG 2019 — Prelude FLNG, Australia 2019 — Cameron LNG, United States 2019 — Corpus Christi LNG, United States 2019 — Freeport LNG, United States 2019 — Elba Island LNG, United States 2019 — Vysotsk LNG, Russia 2021 — PETRONAS FLNG Dua, Malaysia 2022 — Coral South FLNG, Mozambique 2022 — Calcasieu Pass LNG, United States 2022 — Portovaya LNG, Russia 2024 — Altamira Fast LNG, Mexico 2024 — Plaquemines LNG, United States 2024 — Congo Marine XII FLNG Phase 1, Republic of the Congo 2025 — Greater Tortue Ahmeyim FLNG, Mauritania/Senegal 2025 — LNG Canada 2025–2026 — Corpus Christi Stage 3, United States 2026 — Golden Pass LNG, United States — first LNG production in March; first cargo in April 2026 — Energía Costa Azul LNG Phase 1, Mexico — first LNG production in June; first cargo in July Under construction — Nigeria LNG Train 7 — expansion from 22 to 30 MTPA 2026–2028 — North Field East, Qatar — phased start-up and ramp-up expected 2027 — Port Arthur LNG, United States — expected start-up 2027 — Woodfibre LNG, Canada — expected start-up 2027 — PETRONAS FLNG Tiga, Malaysia — expected start-up 2027 — Genting FLNG, Indonesia — expected start-up 2027 — Gabon LNG — expected start-up 2028 — North Field South, Qatar — expected start-up 2028 — Rio Grande LNG, United States — expected start-up 2028 — Marsa LNG, Oman — expected start-up 2028 — Ruwais LNG, UAE — expected start-up 2029 — Mozambique LNG Area 1 — expected start-up 2029 — Cedar LNG, Canada — expected start-up 2030–2031 — North Field West, Qatar — expected start-up

The chronology combines greenfield LNG plants and major standalone expansion phases that have materially increased—or are expected to increase—global LNG liquefaction capacity. Future commissioning dates remain subject to construction and start-up schedules.

Main sources: IGU World LNG Report 2026; IEA Global LNG Capacity Tracker and Gas Market Report; GIIGNL Annual Report; QatarEnergy; NLNG; Golden Pass LNG; Sempra Infrastructure; project operator announcements.

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