Glenfarne authorizes Kiewit to begin early construction work at Texas LNG export terminal in Port of Brownsville

Glenfarne Group’s subsidiary Texas LNG Brownsville LLC has issued a Limited Notice to Proceed to Kiewit Energy Group Inc., greenlighting early construction activities at the Texas LNG export terminal at the Port of Brownsville, Texas. The LNTP covers long-lead equipment purchases, EPC-phase engineering, and geotechnical work — steps designed to position the project for full construction and a final investment decision.

Glenfarne issues Limited Notice to Proceed to Kiewit Energy Group

Texas LNG Brownsville LLC, the Glenfarne subsidiary behind the terminal, issued the LNTP directly to Kiewit Energy Group Inc. as the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction contractor. The notice authorizes three specific work streams: purchase orders for long-lead equipment, engineering tied to the EPC phase, and geotechnical work to ready the site for full-scale construction.

These early activities are deliberate stepping stones. Completing them now builds momentum ahead of a final investment decision — the critical milestone that unlocks full construction funding and commitment.

That’s a genuine differentiator in a market where buyers in Europe and Asia are paying closer attention to the carbon footprint of the LNG they import.

Brendan Duval, CEO and Founder of Glenfarne, framed the LNTP in terms of both partnership strength and strategic discipline. “The LNTP work and purchase orders demonstrate the strength of the project’s world-class partner network and Glenfarne’s continued disciplined advancement of Texas LNG,” he said. “By progressing key equipment, engineering, and site-readiness work during LNTP, we are maintaining project momentum.”

Why Glenfarne selected Kiewit and what the LNTP scope entails

Kiewit Energy Group didn’t land this project without a track record. Texas LNG had already executed a lump-sum turnkey EPC agreement with Kiewit before the LNTP was issued — a contract structure that puts cost and schedule risk squarely on the contractor, signaling a high level of confidence from both sides.

The project also holds Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorization for both construction and operation. That regulatory clearance is a significant hurdle for any LNG export terminal, and having it in place strengthens the foundation the LNTP now builds on.

None of the LNTP scope is busywork. Long-lead equipment — items that take months or years to manufacture and deliver — has to be ordered well ahead of full construction. Getting those purchase orders placed early cuts the risk of delays once FID is reached and construction kicks off in earnest.

The existing EPC agreement, FERC authorization, and the LNTP together represent a layered set of milestones, each one supporting the next. The cumulative effect is a project advancing in a structured, deliberate way toward delivering lower-emission U.S. LNG to international markets.

Consequences for the Texas LNG timeline and Glenfarne’s portfolio

Early construction activities serve a specific strategic function: they keep a project moving without requiring the full financial commitment of a final investment decision. For Texas LNG, critical groundwork continues while commercial and financing arrangements get finalized.

The terminal is built around a low-emissions profile. Plans call for electric motor drives — a technology choice that positions the facility as one of the lowest-emitting LNG export terminals globally. That’s a genuine differentiator in a market where buyers in Europe and Asia are paying closer attention to the carbon footprint of the LNG they import.

Locally, the project carries real economic weight for the Port of Brownsville area. Construction and eventual operations are expected to generate employment and broader economic activity in the region — the kind of outcome that tends to build community support and political goodwill for large infrastructure projects.

Zoom out, and Texas LNG fits into a much larger picture. Glenfarne’s permitted North American LNG portfolio totals 32.8 million tonnes per annum of capacity under development, spread across Alaska, Louisiana, and Texas. The LNTP at Brownsville reflects the company’s push to advance multiple projects in parallel across that portfolio.

Background: Glenfarne Group and the U.S. midstream energy sector

Glenfarne Group is a privately held global developer, owner, and operator of energy infrastructure assets. It owns and operates 60 energy assets through three core businesses—Global LNG Solutions, Grid Stability, and Renewables—a breadth that gives it operational depth pure-play developers often lack.

The broader midstream energy market provides a favorable backdrop for projects like Texas LNG. Demand for natural gas is rising, and energy security concerns amplified by geopolitical disruptions in recent years have pushed governments and utilities to diversify their supply sources aggressively.

The numbers back that up. U.S. natural gas production is projected to reach a record 118 billion cubic feet per day by 2026, with consumption expected to climb to 91.4 billion cubic feet per day in the near term. That production growth creates both the supply base and the commercial logic for expanding LNG export infrastructure.

Keeping the project on track toward a final investment decision

The LNTP issued to Kiewit Energy Group marks a concrete step forward for the Texas LNG export terminal at the Port of Brownsville. It covers long-lead equipment purchases, EPC-phase engineering, and geotechnical work — all aimed at keeping the project on track toward a final investment decision and full construction.

The move builds on an existing lump-sum turnkey EPC agreement and FERC authorization, reflecting a project that’s cleared major regulatory and contractual hurdles. Electric motor drives sit at the core of the terminal’s design, positioning it among the lowest-emitting LNG facilities in the world.

For Glenfarne, this is one piece of a 32.8 MTPA North American LNG portfolio. For the Port of Brownsville, it’s a project that promises local jobs and economic activity as it moves through the final stages before full construction begins.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.