Train 2 at Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Corpus Christi liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility is one step closer to entering commercial operation after federal authorities last week approved the introduction of gas and commissioning of the fuel gas system at the Texas Gulf Coast facility.

In an order last Thursday, FERC said the approvals for Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC (CCL) were based on staff inspections and review of other previously submitted documents. In its order, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission clarified that its approval does not grant CCL the authority to introduce hazardous fluids into other project facilities at the LNG terminal, but said that additional authorizations would be granted once the facility demonstrated full compliance with the conditions of the order.

The Corpus facility initially consists of three large-scale trains and supporting infrastructure, with an additional seven smaller trains proposed. Train 1 produced its first gas in November, and the first cargo set sail in December.

Train 2 is expected to be nearly completed in the second half of 2019, with completion of Train 3 set for the second half of 2021.

The facility is to have three LNG storage tanks with about 10.1 Bcfe total capacity, as well as two marine berths. The seven smaller trains now under development would increase the total expected nominal production capacity of the facility to about 23 million metric tons/year (mmty).

Cheniere chief Jack Fusco said in November that there was “probably another 30 million tons at Corpus that can be built in addition to Train 3” given the facility’s proximity to abundant gas supplies.

Last week, Williams started service on an 475 MMcf/d expansion of its Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line, which provides service to both the Corpus Christi facility and Freeport LNG Development LP’s liquefaction project, also located on the upper Texas coast.