- The LPG tanker Navigator Eclipse has become the first vessel to dock at Enterprise Products’ new terminal on the Neches River, marking the start of the facility’s commissioning phase.
- Phase 1 of the terminal has a nameplate capacity of 120,000 bpd and is expected to begin full operations in H2 2025; Phase 2 will significantly expand loading capabilities by 2026.
- The terminal will support rising global demand for ethane and propane exports, particularly from Asia, with the first shipment likely bound for China’s Satellite Chemical.l
Enterprise Products Partners has begun commissioning its new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export terminal along the Neches River in Texas. This milestone was marked by the arrival of the gas tanker Navigator Eclipse, which docked at the facility earlier this week, according to ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler, according to Reuters.
First Tanker Signals Start of Operations
The mooring of the Navigator Eclipse—a vessel that has transported ethane between the U.S. and China since 2021—indicates that the facility has entered its final testing stage prior to full commercial operations. While Enterprise did not comment immediately, energy research firm Vortexa confirmed the mooring as a sign of commissioning activity.
Strategic Expansion to Meet Global Demand
Enterprise, one of the largest U.S. producers and exporters of ethane, is actively expanding its natural gas liquids (NGL) infrastructure to meet growing global demand for ethane and propane. These hydrocarbons, byproducts of oil and gas production, are essential for producing plastics (ethane) and for heating and cooking applications (propane).
Terminal Capabilities and Phase Development
Phase 1 of the Neches River project offers a nameplate capacity of 120,000 barrels per day (bpd), with maximum loading rates of 45,000 barrels per hour. It is scheduled to begin full operations in the second half of 2025. Meanwhile, Phase 2, expected in the first half of 2026, will boost the terminal’s capacity to handle up to 180,000 bpd of ethane and 360,000 bpd of propane, or a mix of both fuels.
First Cargo Likely Destined for China
Vortexa analyst Samantha Hartke noted that the Navigator Eclipse is likely to carry the commissioning cargo to Satellite Chemical’s Lianyungang terminal in China. The final commissioning process is a critical stage where all systems are tested to ensure operational readiness before the facility begins regular commercial exports.
Pivotal Step in Strengthening U.S. LPG Export Capacity
This new facility enhances Enterprise’s position in the global NGL market and reflects broader efforts by the U.S. energy sector to capitalize on international demand, particularly from Asian markets. Once fully operational, the terminal will serve as a vital export hub for ethane and propane, solidifying the U.S.’s role as a major player in global petrochemical and fuel supply chains.
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Source: Reuters
