Delfin Midstream Greenlights $5 Billion Floating LNG Export Terminal Off Louisiana Coast

## Delfin Midstream Approves Landmark US Floating LNG Export Project Delfin Midstream has taken a final investment decision on a $5 billion floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) export facility to be located off the coast of Louisiana, marking a significant milestone in US energy infrastructure development, according to gCaptain. The project, backed by a high-profile consortium of investors including BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and global commodity trader Vitol, would be the **first floating LNG export terminal in the United States** and is set to become the **world's largest FLNG development** by capacity. ### A New Chapter for US LNG Exports The decision carries considerable strategic weight for the US LNG sector. Unlike conventional onshore liquefaction terminals, floating LNG facilities are moored offshore and process and liquefy natural gas directly on the vessel, offering a faster development pathway and reduced onshore environmental footprint. The Louisiana offshore location positions the project to tap into the prolific Gulf of Mexico gas supply network, with direct access to global shipping lanes for LNG cargo deliveries to Europe and Asia — markets that have aggressively sought to diversify away from Russian pipeline gas in recent years. The involvement of MOL underscores the project's shipping dimension, as the Japanese carrier brings deep expertise in LNG vessel operations and offtake logistics. Vitol's participation signals strong commercial confidence in long-term LNG demand fundamentals, while BlackRock's GIP provides the institutional capital backing required for a development of this scale. ### Industry Significance The Delfin FLNG project has been in development for several years, navigating regulatory approvals from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy. The final investment decision represents the culmination of that process and signals that sufficient long-term offtake agreements are in place to underwrite the project's financing. If constructed on schedule, the facility would add meaningful new LNG export capacity to the US portfolio at a time when global demand for American LNG continues to grow, particularly among European buyers seeking energy security. The project is expected to generate significant activity across the maritime supply chain, including FLNG vessel construction, marine support operations, and LNG carrier chartering demand. *Source: gCaptain*