NextDecade contractor Bechtel awards ABB more Rio Grande LNG automation work

NextDecade Corp. contractor Bechtel Corp. has awarded ABB Ltd. additional integrated automation and electrical solution orders, extending its scope to Trains 4 and 5 of NextDecade’s 30-million tonne/year (tpy)  Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) plant in Brownsville, Tex. The orders were booked in third- and fourth-quarters 2025 and build on ABB’s Phase 1 work with Trains 1-3, totaling 17 million tpy. 

The scope for RGLNG Trains 4 and 5 includes deployment of an integrated control and safety system consisting of a distributed control system, emergency shutdown, and fire and gas systems. An electrical controls and monitoring system will provide unified visibility of the plant’s electrical infrastructure.

These two overarching solutions will provide a common automation platform. ABB will also supply medium-voltage drives, synchronous motors, transformers, motor controllers and switchgear. 

The orders also include local equipment buildings—two for Train 4 and one for Train 5— housing critical control and electrical systems in prefabricated modules to streamline installation and commissioning on site. The solutions being delivered to Bechtel use ABB adaptive execution, a methodology for capital projects designed to optimize engineering work and reduce delivery timelines.

Phase 1 of RGLNG is under construction and expected to begin operations in 2027. Operations at Train 4 are expected in 2030 and Train 5 in 2031. ABB’s senior vice-president for the Americas, Scott McCay, confirmed to Oil & Gas Journal at CERAWeek by S&P Global in Houston that the company is doing similar work through Tecnimont for Argent LNG’s planned 25-million tpy plant in Port Fourchon, La.; 10-million tpy Phase 1 and 15-million tpy Phase 2.

Argent is targeting 2030 completion for its plant.