NextDecade Corp. has officially reached a final investment decision (FID) and given a notice to proceed on construction of the first phase of its Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) facility.

The Houston-based company disclosed Wednesday afternoon that it had secured $18.4 billion for the 17.6 million metric ton/year (mmty) first phase, making it what the company said is the largest greenfield energy project financing in U.S. history.

The firm previously teased before the Independence Day holiday that it received commitments from an international consortium of lenders that would allow it to reach FID sometime in July, including Asian, European, Middle Eastern and North American project finance banks.

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