The Woodlands, TX-based NextDecade LLC said it has signed heads of agreement (HOA) for a total of 14 million tons per annum (mtpa) for the sale and purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Customers are in Asia and Europe, NextDecade said, adding that it will be working to convert the HOAs to fully termed sales and purchase/tolling agreements. The company is developing Rio Grande LNG and the roughly 140-mile Rio Bravo Pipeline system that will provide feed gas to the LNG facility in Brownsville, TX. At full capacity, Rio Grande LNG will be able to liquefy and export up to 27 mtpa of LNG with initial production of 9 mtpa expected to begin in 2020. NextDecade expects to make a final investment decision on the project in early 2017 (see Daily GPI, March 23). “These agreements are paving the way forward for NextDecade’s U.S.-based LNG export projects, Rio Grande LNG and Pelican Island LNG [see Daily GPI, March 9],” said NextDecade CEO Kathleen Eisbrenner. “Despite challenging overall market dynamics, our experience in the marketplace and the conversations that NextDecade has been having with potential LNG buyers tell a very different story. The global market for U.S.-produced LNG is robust.”