Honeywell Extends Its LNG Tech Lead at Rio Grande

Honeywell wins Trains 4 and 5 at Rio Grande LNG, securing all five units and pushing total capacity to 30 MTPA by mid-2031

13 May 2026

Honeywell has been awarded contracts to supply liquefaction technology for Trains 4 and 5 at NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG terminal in Brownsville, Texas, giving it complete technological oversight across all five units at one of the largest LNG export facilities under development in North America.

Working through engineering contractor Bechtel, Honeywell will provide its C3MR liquefaction process and coil-wound heat exchanger equipment -- the same systems already operating across the facility's first three trains. A separate scope covering distributed control, emergency shutdown, and fire and gas detection will be integrated with the liquefaction hardware from the start of operations.

At full five-train capacity, Rio Grande LNG is designed to produce 30 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, up from 18 MTPA under the original three-train plan. The expanded facility is targeted for operational status by mid-2031.

Honeywell's systems now support roughly two-thirds of global LNG production capacity, a position it consolidated after acquiring Air Products' LNG equipment and intellectual property business in 2024.

The timing of the expansion reflects mounting pressure in global energy markets. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have removed an estimated 20 per cent of global LNG supply, pushing buyers toward alternative sources and keeping US export terminals near full utilisation.

Capital is following that demand signal. A major French investor holding equity in both Train 4 and NextDecade itself has indicated plans to redirect approximately $1bn in reclaimed offshore wind subsidies into Rio Grande LNG's continued development. The reallocation underscores how shifting energy economics are redirecting institutional capital away from renewables projects toward fossil fuel infrastructure with clearer near-term returns.

Whether the mid-2031 target holds will depend on engineering progress, permitting, and the durability of long-term supply agreements. The US Gulf Coast remains central to the global LNG supply picture, and Rio Grande LNG's expansion is among the most consequential projects shaping its trajectory.