Atlantic LNG will begin shipping its third liquefied natural gas (LNG) production train from Trinidad and Tobago in the next few days, according to BP plc, one of the company’s stakeholders. With the latest shipment, Trinidad and Tobago will become the fifth largest LNG market in the world.

The newest train was scheduled to begin loading over the weekend, and would be taken to the regasification facility in Elba Island, GA. Trinidad and Tobago’s Atlantic LNG Train 1 began production in 1999, and the second train began shipments last year. Atlantic LNG has a total LNG export capacity of 9.7 million metric tons/year, according to BP.

The BP carrier, British Trader, which the company took possession of earlier this year, will act as carrier for Train 3, said the company. It has a capacity of 138,000 cubic meters. BP has reserved the latest shipment to sell in the U.S. market.

Atlantic LNG established its first train in 1999 and is owned by a consortium of companies including BP, the British Gas unit of BG Group plc, Repsol, Cabot Oil & Gas Co. and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ralph C. Alexander, CEO of BP’s Gas, Power & Renewables, said Trinidad and Tobago together have become “an industry force in a remarkably short space of time.” BP’s global LNG business has grown because of additional business in Asia and the United States. In 1999, Train 1 began production in Trinidad, which exported to Spain, the United States and Puerto Rico and included BG supplies into Lake Charles, LA’s LNG facility as well as the Cabot LNG facility in Boston. “Trinidad Train 1 made remarkable progress at driving down the cost, setting a new industry benchmark,” said Alexander. “This trend has continued with Trains 2 and 3, and we confidently expect to deliver further progress in the future.”

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