HOUSTON and SEOUL, South Korea, June 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheniere Energy Inc. (NYSE MKT: LNG) and Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) today hailed the commencement of their 20-year Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) to supply U.S.-sourced LNG to KOGAS from the Sabine Pass Liquefaction facility in Louisiana. The SPA, which was originally signed in January of 2012, officially commenced on June 1, 2017, with the first cargo loading the following day.

Under the terms of the SPA, Cheniere shall sell and make available for delivery to KOGAS approximately 3.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, which represents more than 10 percent of South Korea's total annual demand.

Cheniere officials, led by CEO and President Jack Fusco, hosted KOGAS officials, led by CEO Seung-Hoon Lee, today at Cheniere's Sabine Pass Liquefaction facility.

"KOGAS is an ideal commercial partner as one of the largest buyers of LNG in the world and serves South Korea, an important economic and national ally of the United States," said Jack Fusco, President and CEO of Cheniere. "This is just the beginning of a long and productive relationship that will be beneficial to both companies and both countries, and we hope to continue to grow this relationship between KOGAS and Cheniere."

KOGAS president & CEO Mr. Seung-Hoon Lee said, "This long-term LNG SPA with Cheniere Energy will contribute significantly to improving the trade balance between the United States and Korea. Plus, the destination-free US LNG will greatly increase the flexibility and efficiency in the global LNG market." 

KOGAS was incorporated by the Korean government in 1983 to engage in the development, production and distribution of liquefied natural gas. KOGAS has since grown to become one of the largest buyers of LNG and is the Republic of Korea's dominant gas provider. KOGAS operates four LNG terminals with the current storage capacity of 4.84 million tons in 69 storage tanks and a nationwide pipeline network that spans over 4,672 km. KOGAS imports LNG from around the world and supplies it to power generation plants, gas-utility companies and city gas companies throughout the country. It produces and supplies natural gas, purifies and sells gas-related by-products, builds and operates production facilities and distribution networks, and explores for, imports and exports natural gas for domestic and overseas markets. 

In February 2016, Cheniere became the first company to ship LNG from the contiguous United States in over 50 years, and is currently the only exporter of U.S. LNG. Cheniere's unique business model provides a full-service LNG offering to customers worldwide, which includes acquiring, transporting, and processing pipeline gas, and providing LNG to customers either at the flange of the LNG terminal, or on a delivered basis to markets around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" within the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Included among "forward-looking statements" are, among other things, statements regarding Cheniere's business strategy, plans and objectives, including the use of proceeds from the offering. Although Cheniere believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere's periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Cheniere Energy, Inc.