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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
or
    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from            to            
Commission file number 001-16383
lng-20211231_g1.gif
CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware95-4352386
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
700 Milam Street, Suite 1900
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(713375-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $ 0.003 par valueLNGNYSE American
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes    No 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes    No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes    No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes     No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes    No   
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $21.8 billion as of June 30, 2021.
As of February 18, 2022, the issuer had 254,397,855 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Documents incorporated by reference: The definitive proxy statement for the registrant’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders (to be filed within 120 days of the close of the registrant’s fiscal year) is incorporated by reference into Part III.



CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

i


DEFINITIONS

As used in this annual report, the terms listed below have the following meanings: 

Common Industry and Other Terms
Bcfbillion cubic feet
Bcf/dbillion cubic feet per day
Bcf/yrbillion cubic feet per year
Bcfebillion cubic feet equivalent
DOEU.S. Department of Energy
EPCengineering, procurement and construction
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
FTA countriescountries with which the United States has a free trade agreement providing for national treatment for trade in natural gas
GAAPgenerally accepted accounting principles in the United States
Henry Hubthe final settlement price (in USD per MMBtu) for the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Henry Hub natural gas futures contract for the month in which a relevant cargo’s delivery window is scheduled to begin
IPM agreementsintegrated production marketing agreements in which the gas producer sells to us gas on a global LNG index price, less a fixed liquefaction fee, shipping and other costs
LIBORLondon Interbank Offered Rate
LNGliquefied natural gas, a product of natural gas that, through a refrigeration process, has been cooled to a liquid state, which occupies a volume that is approximately 1/600th of its gaseous state
MMBtumillion British thermal units; one British thermal unit measures the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit
mtpamillion tonnes per annum
non-FTA countriescountries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement providing for national treatment for trade in natural gas and with which trade is permitted
SECU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SOFRSecured Overnight Financing Rate
SPALNG sale and purchase agreement
TBtu
trillion British thermal units; one British thermal unit measures the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit
Trainan industrial facility comprised of a series of refrigerant compressor loops used to cool natural gas into LNG
TUAterminal use agreement

1


Abbreviated Legal Entity Structure

The following diagram depicts our abbreviated legal entity structure as of December 31, 2021, including our ownership of certain subsidiaries, and the references to these entities used in this annual report:
lng-20211231_g2.jpg

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Cheniere,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Cheniere Energy, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including our publicly traded subsidiary, CQP.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “CCH Group” refer to CCH, CCL and CCP, collectively.

2


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein or incorporated herein by reference are “forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking statements” are, among other things: 
statements that we expect to commence or complete construction of our proposed LNG terminals, liquefaction facilities, pipeline facilities or other projects, or any expansions or portions thereof, by certain dates, or at all;
statements regarding future levels of domestic and international natural gas production, supply or consumption or future levels of LNG imports into or exports from North America and other countries worldwide or purchases of natural gas, regardless of the source of such information, or the transportation or other infrastructure or demand for and prices related to natural gas, LNG or other hydrocarbon products;
statements regarding any financing transactions or arrangements, or our ability to enter into such transactions;
statements relating to Cheniere’s capital deployment, including intent, ability, extent, and timing of capital expenditures, debt repayment, dividends, and share repurchases;
statements regarding our future sources of liquidity and cash requirements;
statements relating to the construction of our Trains and pipelines, including statements concerning the engagement of any EPC contractor or other contractor and the anticipated terms and provisions of any agreement with any EPC or other contractor, and anticipated costs related thereto;
statements regarding any SPA or other agreement to be entered into or performed substantially in the future, including any revenues anticipated to be received and the anticipated timing thereof, and statements regarding the amounts of total LNG regasification, natural gas liquefaction or storage capacities that are, or may become, subject to contracts;
statements regarding counterparties to our commercial contracts, construction contracts and other contracts;
statements regarding our planned development and construction of additional Trains or pipelines, including the financing of such Trains or pipelines;
statements that our Trains, when completed, will have certain characteristics, including amounts of liquefaction capacities;
statements regarding our business strategy, our strengths, our business and operation plans or any other plans, forecasts, projections, or objectives, including anticipated revenues, capital expenditures, maintenance and operating costs and cash flows, any or all of which are subject to change;
statements regarding legislative, governmental, regulatory, administrative or other public body actions, approvals, requirements, permits, applications, filings, investigations, proceedings or decisions;
statements regarding our anticipated LNG and natural gas marketing activities;
statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business and operating results, including any customers not taking delivery of LNG cargoes, the ongoing creditworthiness of our contractual counterparties, any disruptions in our operations or construction of our Trains and the health and safety of our employees, and on our customers, the global economy and the demand for LNG;
any other statements that relate to non-historical or future information; and
other factors described in Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “achieve,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “pursue,” “target,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this annual report are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe that such estimates are reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties beyond our control. In addition, assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. We caution that the
3


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

forward-looking statements contained in this annual report are not guarantees of future performance and that such statements may not be realized or the forward-looking statements or events may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors described in this annual report and in the other reports and other information that we file with the SEC. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement or provide reasons why actual results may differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
4


PART I

ITEMS 1. AND 2.    BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

General
 
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (“Cheniere”), a Delaware corporation, is a Houston-based energy infrastructure company primarily engaged in LNG-related businesses. We provide clean, secure and affordable LNG to integrated energy companies, utilities and energy trading companies around the world. We aspire to conduct our business in a safe and responsible manner, delivering a reliable, competitive and integrated source of LNG to our customers.

LNG is natural gas (methane) in liquid form. The LNG we produce is shipped all over the world, turned back into natural gas (called “regasification”) and then transported via pipeline to homes and businesses and used as an energy source that is essential for heating, cooking and other industrial uses. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning, abundant and affordable source of energy. When LNG is converted back to natural gas, it can be used instead of coal, which reduces the amount of pollution traditionally produced from burning fossil fuels, like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that enters the air we breathe. Additionally, compared to coal, it produces significantly fewer carbon emissions. By liquefying natural gas, we are able to reduce its volume by 600 times so that we can load it onto special LNG carriers designed to keep the LNG cold and in liquid form for efficient transport overseas.

We own and operate the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, one of the largest LNG production facilities in the world, through our ownership interest in and management agreements with Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“CQP”), which is a publicly traded limited partnership that we created in 2007. As of December 31, 2021, we owned 100% of the general partner interest and 48.6% of the limited partner interest in CQP.

CQP owns the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, which has natural gas liquefaction facilities consisting of six operational Trains, with Train 6 which achieved substantial completion on February 4, 2022, for a total production capacity of approximately 30 mtpa of LNG (the “SPL Project”). The Sabine Pass LNG terminal also has operational regasification facilities that include five LNG storage tanks with aggregate capacity of approximately 17 Bcfe, two existing marine berths and one under construction that can each accommodate vessels with nominal capacity of up to 266,000 cubic meters and vaporizers with regasification capacity of approximately 4 Bcf/d. CQP also owns a 94-mile pipeline through its subsidiary, Cheniere Creole Trail Pipeline, L.P. (“CTPL”), that interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of large interstate pipelines (the “Creole Trail Pipeline”).

We also own the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas, which has natural gas liquefaction facilities consisting of three operational Trains for a total production capacity of approximately 15 mtpa of LNG. Additionally, we operate a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with several interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines (the “Corpus Christi Pipeline” and together with the Trains, the “CCL Project”) through our subsidiaries Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (“CCL”) and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. (“CCP”), respectively, as part of the CCH Group. The CCL Project also includes three LNG storage tanks with aggregate capacity of approximately 10 Bcfe and two marine berths that can each accommodate vessels with nominal capacity of up to 266,000 cubic meters.

We are the largest producer of LNG in the United States and the second largest LNG producer globally, based on the total production capacity of our asset platforms of approximately 40 mtpa as of December 31, 2021, which increased to approximately 45 mtpa upon our ninth Train which achieved substantial completion on February 4, 2022. We are also the largest consumer of natural gas in the United States on a daily basis, at full utilization of the Trains in operation.

Additionally, separate from the CCH Group, we are developing an expansion of the Corpus Christi LNG terminal adjacent to the CCL Project (“Corpus Christi Stage 3”) through our subsidiary Cheniere Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III, LLC (“CCL Stage III”) for up to seven midscale Trains with an expected total production capacity of over 10 mtpa of LNG. We received approval from FERC in November 2019 to site, construct and operate the expansion project.

Our customer arrangements provide us with significant, stable and long-term cash flows. As further discussed below, we contract our anticipated production capacity under SPAs, in which our customers are generally required to pay a fixed fee with respect to the contracted volumes irrespective of their election to cancel or suspend deliveries of LNG cargoes, and under IPM agreements, in which the gas producer sells to us gas on a global LNG index price, less a fixed liquefaction fee, shipping and
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other costs. We have contracted approximately 95% of the total production capacity from the SPL Project and the CCL Project (collectively, the “Liquefaction Projects”), including those contracts executed to support Corpus Christi Stage 3. Substantially all of our contracted capacity is from contracts with terms exceeding 10 years. Excluding contracts with terms less than 10 years, our SPAs and IPM agreements had approximately 17 years of weighted average remaining life as of December 31, 2021. We also market and sell LNG produced by the Liquefaction Projects that is not required for other customers through our integrated marketing function. For further discussion of the contracted future cash flows under our revenue arrangements, see Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.

We remain focused on operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Increasing demand for LNG has allowed us to expand our liquefaction infrastructure in a financially disciplined manner. We have increased available liquefaction capacity at our Liquefaction Projects as a result of debottlenecking and other optimization projects. We hold significant land positions at both the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal, which provide opportunity for further liquefaction capacity expansion. The development of these sites or other projects, including infrastructure projects in support of natural gas supply and LNG demand, will require, among other things, acceptable commercial and financing arrangements before we can make a final investment decision (“FID”).

Additionally, we are committed to the responsible and proactive management of our most important environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) impacts, risks and opportunities. We published our 2020 Corporate Responsibility (“CR”) report, which details our strategy and progress on ESG issues, as well as our efforts on integrating climate considerations into our business strategy and taking a leadership position on increased environmental transparency, including conducting a climate scenario analysis and our plan to provide LNG customers with Cargo Emission Tags. In August 2021, we also announced a peer-reviewed LNG life cycle assessment study which allows for improved greenhouse gas emissions assessment, which was published in the American Chemical Society Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Journal. Our CR report is available at cheniere.com/IMPACT. Information on our website, including the CR report, is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For further discussion on social and governance matters, see Human Capital Resources.

Our Business Strategy

Our primary business strategy is to be a full service LNG provider to worldwide end-use customers. We accomplish this objective by owning, constructing and operating LNG and natural gas infrastructure facilities to meet our long-term customers’ energy demands and: 
safely, efficiently and reliably operating and maintaining our assets;
procuring natural gas and pipeline transport capacity to our facilities;
providing value to our customers through destination flexibility, options not to lift cargoes and diversity of price and geography;
continuing to secure long-term customer contracts to support our planned expansion, including the FID of Corpus Christi Stage 3;
completing our expansion construction projects safely, on-time and on-budget;
maximizing the production of LNG to serve our customers and generating steady and stable revenues and operating cash flows;
maintaining a flexible capital structure to finance the acquisition, development, construction and operation of the energy assets needed to supply our customers;
executing our “all of the above” capital allocation strategy, focused on strengthening our balance sheet, funding financially disciplined growth and returning capital to our shareholders; and
strategically identifying actionable environmental solutions.

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Our Business
 
We shipped our first LNG cargo in February 2016 and as of February 18, 2022, over 2,000 cumulative LNG cargoes totaling approximately 140 million tonnes of LNG have been produced, loaded and exported from the Liquefaction Projects. Cheniere’s LNG has been shipped to 37 countries and regions around the world.

Below is a discussion of our operations. For further discussion of our contractual obligations and cash requirements related to these operations, refer to Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Sabine Pass LNG Terminal

Liquefaction Facilities

The SPL Project is one of the largest LNG production facilities in the world. Through CQP we operate six Trains, including Train 6 which achieved substantial completion on February 4, 2022, and two marine berths at the SPL Project, and are constructing a third marine berth. The SPL Project has a lump sum turnkey contract with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc. (“Bechtel”) for the EPC of Train 6 of the SPL Project. The following table summarizes the project completion and construction status of Train 6 as of December 31, 2021:
SPL Train 6
Overall project completion percentage99.5%
Completion percentage of:
Engineering100.0%
Procurement100.0%
Subcontract work99.6%
Construction98.8%
Date of substantial completionFebruary 4, 2022

The following summarizes the volumes of natural gas for which we have received approvals from FERC to site, construct and operate the SPL Project and the orders we have received from the DOE authorizing the export of domestically produced LNG by vessel from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal through December 31, 2050:
FERC Approved VolumeDOE Approved Volume
(in Bcf/yr)(in mtpa)(in Bcf/yr)(in mtpa)
FTA countries1,661.94331,661.9433
Non-FTA countries1,661.94331,509.3 (1)30
(1)The authorization for an additional 152.64 Bcf/yr (approximately 3 mtpa) of natural gas is currently pending.

Natural Gas Supply, Transportation and Storage

SPL has secured natural gas feedstock for the Sabine Pass LNG terminal through long-term natural gas supply agreements. Additionally, to ensure that SPL is able to transport natural gas feedstock to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and manage inventory levels, it has entered into transportation precedent and other agreements to secure firm pipeline transportation and storage capacity from third parties.

Regasification Facilities
 
The Sabine Pass LNG terminal has operational regasification capacity of approximately 4 Bcf/d and aggregate LNG storage capacity of approximately 17 Bcfe. SPLNG has entered into two long-term, third party TUAs for an aggregate of 2 Bcf/d, under which SPLNG’s customers are required to pay fixed monthly fees, whether or not they use the regasification capacity they have reserved at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. The remaining approximately 2 Bcf/d of capacity has been reserved under a TUA by SPL.

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Corpus Christi LNG Terminal

Liquefaction Facilities

We operate three Trains and two marine berths at the CCL Project. We commenced commercial operating activities of Trains 1, 2 and 3 of the CCL Project in February 2019, August 2019 and March 2021, respectively. Separate from the CCH Group, we are also developing Corpus Christi Stage 3 with up to seven midscale Trains through our subsidiary CCL Stage III, adjacent to the CCL Project.

The following summarizes the volumes of natural gas for which we have received approvals from FERC to site, construct and operate the CCL Project and Corpus Christi Stage 3 and the orders we have received from the DOE authorizing the export of domestically produced LNG by vessel from the Corpus Christi LNG terminal through December 31, 2050:
FERC Approved VolumeDOE Approved Volume
(in Bcf/yr)(in mtpa)(in Bcf/yr)(in mtpa)
CCL Project:
FTA countries875.1617875.1617
Non-FTA countries875.1617767 (1)15
Corpus Christi Stage 3:
FTA countries582.1411.45582.1411.45
Non-FTA countries582.1411.45582.1411.45
(1)The authorization for an additional 108.16 Bcf/yr (approximately 2 mtpa) of natural gas is currently pending.

Pipeline Facilities

In November 2019, the FERC authorized CCP to construct and operate the pipeline for Corpus Christi Stage 3. The pipeline will be designed to transport 1.5 Bcf/d of natural gas feedstock required by Corpus Christi Stage 3 from the existing regional natural gas pipeline grid.

Natural Gas Supply, Transportation and Storage

CCL has secured natural gas feedstock for the Corpus Christi LNG terminal through traditional long-term natural gas supply and IPM agreements. CCL Stage III has also entered into long-term natural gas supply contracts with third parties, including IPM agreements, and anticipates continuing to enter into such agreements, in order to secure natural gas feedstock for Corpus Christi Stage 3. Additionally, to ensure that CCL is able to transport and manage the natural gas feedstock to the Corpus Christi LNG terminal, it has entered into transportation precedent and other agreements to secure firm pipeline transportation and storage capacity from third parties.

Final Investment Decision for Corpus Christi Stage 3

FID for Corpus Christi Stage 3 will be subject to, among other things, entering into an EPC contract for the project and securing the necessary financing arrangements.

Marketing

We market and sell LNG produced by the Liquefaction Projects that is not required for other customers through Cheniere Marketing, our integrated marketing function. We have, and continue to develop, a portfolio of long-, medium- and short-term SPAs to transport and unload commercial LNG cargoes to locations worldwide.

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Customers

Information regarding our customer contracts can be found in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.

The following table shows customers with revenues of 10% or greater of total revenues from external customers:
Percentage of Total Revenues from External Customers
Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
BG Gulf Coast LNG, LLC and affiliates
12%14%16%
Naturgy LNG GOM, Limited
12%12%10%
Korea Gas Corporation
10%10%11%
GAIL (India) Limited
*10%11%
* Less than 10%

All of the above customers contribute to our LNG revenues through SPA contracts.

Governmental Regulation
 
Our LNG terminals and pipelines are subject to extensive regulation under federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations and laws. These laws require that we engage in consultations with appropriate federal and state agencies and that we obtain and maintain applicable permits and other authorizations. These rigorous regulatory requirements increase the cost of construction and operation, and failure to comply with such laws could result in substantial penalties and/or loss of necessary authorizations.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The design, construction, operation, maintenance and expansion of our liquefaction facilities, the import or export of LNG and the purchase and transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce through our pipelines (including our Creole Trail Pipeline and Corpus Christi Pipeline) are highly regulated activities subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC pursuant to the Natural Gas Act of 1938, as amended (the “NGA”). Under the NGA, the FERC’s jurisdiction generally extends to the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, to the sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce, to natural gas companies engaged in such transportation or sale and to the construction, operation, maintenance and expansion of LNG terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines.

 The FERC’s authority to regulate interstate natural gas pipelines and the services that they provide generally includes regulation of:
rates and charges, and terms and conditions for natural gas transportation, storage and related services;
the certification and construction of new facilities and modification of existing facilities;
the extension and abandonment of services and facilities;
the administration of accounting and financial reporting regulations, including the maintenance of accounts and records;
the acquisition and disposition of facilities;
the initiation and discontinuation of services; and
various other matters.

Under the NGA, our pipelines are not permitted to unduly discriminate or grant undue preference as to rates or the terms and conditions of service to any shipper, including its own marketing affiliate. Those rates, terms and conditions must be public, and on file with the FERC. In contrast to pipeline regulation, the FERC does not require LNG terminal owners to provide open-access services at cost-based or regulated rates. Although the provisions that codified FERC’s policy in this area expired on January 1, 2015, we see no indication that the FERC intends to change its policy in this area. On February 18, 2022,
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FERC updated its 1999 Policy Statement on certification of new interstate natural gas facilities and the framework for FERC’s decision-making process, which would now include, among other things, reasonably foreseeable greenhouse gas emissions that may be attributable to the project and the project’s impact on environmental justice communities. These FERC changes are the first revision in more than 20 years to FERC’s policy for the certification of new interstate natural gas pipeline projects under Section 7 of the NGA. The updated Policy Statement has more limited applicability to LNG projects regulated under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. While the impact on our future projects and expansions is not known at this time, we do not expect it to have a material adverse effect on our operations.

We are permitted to make sales of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce pursuant to a blanket marketing certificate granted by the FERC with the issuance of our Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to our marketing affiliates. Our sales of natural gas will be affected by the availability, terms and cost of pipeline transportation. As noted above, the price and terms of access to pipeline transportation are subject to extensive federal and state regulation.

In order to site, construct and operate our LNG terminals, we received and are required to maintain authorizations from the FERC under Section 3 of the NGA as well as other material governmental and regulatory approvals and permits. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the “EPAct”) amended Section 3 of the NGA to establish or clarify the FERC’s exclusive authority to approve or deny an application for the siting, construction, expansion or operation of LNG terminals, unless specifically provided otherwise in the EPAct, amendments to the NGA. For example, nothing in the EPAct amendments to the NGA were intended to affect otherwise applicable law related to any other federal agency’s authorities or responsibilities related to LNG terminals or those of a state acting under federal law.

The FERC issued its final Order Granting Section 3 Authority (“Order”) in April 2012 approving our application for an order under Section 3 of the NGA authorizing the siting, construction and operation of Trains 1 through 4 of the SPL Project (and related facilities). Subsequently, in May 2012, the FERC issued written approval to commence site preparation work for Trains 1 through 4. In October 2012, we applied to amend the FERC approval to reflect certain modifications to the SPL Project, and in August 2013, the FERC issued an Order approving the modifications. In October 2013, we applied to further amend the FERC approval, requesting authorization to increase the total permitted LNG production capacity of Trains 1 through 4 from the then authorized 803 Bcf/yr to 1,006 Bcf/yr so as to more accurately reflect the estimated maximum LNG production capacity of Trains 1 through 4. In February 2014, the FERC issued an order approving the October 2013 application (the “February 2014 Order”). A party to the proceeding requested a rehearing of the February 2014 Order, and in September 2014, the FERC issued an order denying the rehearing request (the “FERC Order Denying Rehearing”). The party petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the “Court of Appeals”) to review the February 2014 Order and the FERC Order Denying Rehearing. The court denied the petition in June 2016. In September 2013, we filed an application with the FERC for authorization to add Trains 5 and 6 to the SPL Project, which was granted by the FERC in an Order issued in April 2015 and an Order denying rehearing issued in June 2015. These Orders are not subject to appellate court review. In October of 2018, SPL applied to the FERC for authorization to add a third marine berth to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal facilities, which FERC approved in February of 2020. FERC issued written approval to commence site preparation work for the third berth in June 2020.

The Creole Trail Pipeline, which interconnects with the Sabine Pass LNG terminal, holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the FERC under Section 7 of the NGA. The FERC’s approval under Section 7 of the NGA, as well as several other material governmental and regulatory approvals and permits, is required prior to making any modifications to the Creole Trail Pipeline as it is a regulated, interstate natural gas pipeline. In February 2013, the FERC approved CTPL’s application for authorization to construct, own, operate and maintain certain new facilities in order to enable bi-directional natural gas flow on the Creole Trail Pipeline system to allow for the delivery of up to 1,530,000 Dekatherms per day of feed gas to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. In November 2013, CTPL received approval from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“LDEQ”) for the proposed modifications and construction was completed in 2015. In September 2013, as part of the Application for Trains 5 and 6, we filed an application with the FERC for authorization to construct and operate an extension and expansion of Creole Trail Pipeline and related facilities in order to deliver additional domestic natural gas supplies to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal, which was granted by the FERC in an order issued in April 2015 and an order denying rehearing issued in June 2015. These orders are not subject to appellate court review.

In December 2014, the FERC issued an order granting CCL authorization under Section 3 of the NGA to site, construct and operate Trains 1 through 3 of the CCL Project and issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Section 7(c) of the NGA authorizing construction and operation of the Corpus Christi Pipeline (the “December 2014 Order”). A party to the proceeding requested a rehearing of the December 2014 Order, and in May 2015, the FERC denied rehearing (the “Order
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Denying Rehearing”). The party petitioned the relevant Court of Appeals to review the December 2014 Order and the Order Denying Rehearing; that petition was denied on November 4, 2016. In June of 2018, CCL Stage III, CCL and Corpus Christi Pipeline filed an application with the FERC for authorization under Section 3 of the NGA to site, construct and operate Corpus Christi Stage 3 at the existing CCL Project and pipeline locations. In November 2019, the FERC authorized Corpus Christi Stage 3. Corpus Christi Stage 3 consists of the addition of seven midscale Trains and related facilities. The order is not subject to appellate court review. In 2020, FERC authorized Corpus Christi Pipeline to construct and operate a portion of Corpus Christi Stage 3 (Sinton Compressor Station Unit No. 1) on an interim basis independently from the remaining Corpus Christi Stage 3 facilities, which received FERC approval for in-service in December 2020.

On September 27, 2019, CCL and SPL filed a request with the FERC pursuant to Section 3 of the NGA, requesting authorization to increase the total LNG production capacity of each terminal from currently authorized levels to an amount which reflects more accurately the capacity of each facility based on enhancements during the engineering, design and construction process, as well as operational experience to date. The requested authorizations do not involve construction of new facilities. Corresponding applications for authorization to export the incremental volumes were also submitted to the DOE. The DOE issued Orders granting authorization to export LNG to FTA countries in April 2020. The DOE authorization for export to non-FTA countries is still pending. In October 2021, the FERC issued its Orders Amending Authorization under Section 3 of the NGA.

The FERC’s Standards of Conduct apply to interstate pipelines that conduct transmission transactions with an affiliate that engages in natural gas marketing functions. The general principles of the FERC Standards of Conduct are: (1) independent functioning, which requires transmission function employees to function independently of marketing function employees; (2) no-conduit rule, which prohibits passing transmission function information to marketing function employees; and (3) transparency, which imposes posting requirements to detect undue preference due to the improper disclosure of non-public transmission function information. We have established the required policies, procedures and training to comply with the FERC’s Standards of Conduct.

All of our FERC construction, operation, reporting, accounting and other regulated activities are subject to audit by the FERC, which may conduct routine or special inspections and issue data requests designed to ensure compliance with FERC rules, regulations, policies and procedures. The FERC’s jurisdiction under the NGA allows it to impose civil and criminal penalties for any violations of the NGA and any rules, regulations or orders of the FERC up to approximately $1.3 million per day per violation, including any conduct that violates the NGA’s prohibition against market manipulation.

Several other material governmental and regulatory approvals and permits will be required throughout the life of our LNG terminals and our pipelines. In addition, our FERC orders require us to comply with certain ongoing conditions, reporting obligations and maintain other regulatory agency approvals throughout the life of our facilities. For example, throughout the life of our LNG terminals and our pipelines, we are subject to regular reporting requirements to the FERC, the Department of Transportation’s (“DOT”) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”) and applicable federal and state regulatory agencies regarding the operation and maintenance of our facilities. To date, we have been able to obtain and maintain required approvals as needed, and the need for these approvals and reporting obligations have not materially affected our construction or operations.

DOE Export Licenses

The DOE has authorized the export of domestically produced LNG by vessel from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal as discussed in Sabine Pass LNG TerminalLiquefaction Facilities and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal as discussed in Corpus Christi LNG TerminalLiquefaction Facilities. Although it is not expected to occur, the loss of an export authorization could be a force majeure event under our SPAs.

Under Section 3 of the NGA applications for exports of natural gas to FTA countries, which allow for national treatment for trade in natural gas, are “deemed to be consistent with the public interest” and shall be granted by the DOE without “modification or delay.” FTA countries currently recognized by the DOE for exports of LNG include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Republic of Korea and Singapore. FTAs with Israel and Costa Rica do not require national treatment for trade in natural gas. Applications for export of LNG to non-FTA countries are considered by the DOE in a notice and comment proceeding whereby the public and other interveners are provided the opportunity to comment and may assert that such authorization would not be consistent with the public interest.
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Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

Our LNG terminals as well as the Creole Trail Pipeline and the Corpus Christi Pipeline are subject to regulation by PHMSA. PHMSA is authorized by the applicable pipeline safety laws to establish minimum safety standards for certain pipelines and LNG facilities. The regulatory standards PHMSA has established are applicable to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, maintenance and management of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and LNG facilities that affect interstate or foreign commerce. PHMSA has also established training, worker qualification and reporting requirements.

PHMSA performs inspections of pipeline and LNG facilities and has authority to undertake enforcement actions, including issuance of civil penalties up to approximately $225,000 per day per violation, with a maximum administrative civil penalty of approximately $2.25 million for any related series of violations.

Other Governmental Permits, Approvals and Authorizations

Construction and operation of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and the CCL Project require additional permits, orders, approvals and consultations to be issued by various federal and state agencies, including the DOT, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”), U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the LDEQ, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) and the Railroad Commission of Texas (“RRC”).

The USACE issues its permits under the authority of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) (Section 404) and the Rivers and Harbors Act (Section 10). The EPA administers the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), and has delegated authority to the TCEQ and LDEQ to issue the Title V Operating Permit (the “Title V Permit”) and the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permit (the “PSD Permit”). These two permits are issued by the LDEQ for the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and CTPL and by the TCEQ for the CCL Project.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) amended the Commodity Exchange Act to provide for federal regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as us, that participate in those markets. The CFTC has enacted a number of regulations pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, including the speculative position limit rules which became effective on March 15, 2021 and have a phased-in compliance date that began on January 1, 2022. Given the recent enactment of the speculative position limit rules, as well as the impact of other rules and regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act, the impact of such rules and regulations on our business continues to be uncertain.

As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC and federal banking regulators also adopted rules requiring Swap Dealers (as defined in the Dodd-Frank Act), including those that are regulated financial institutions, to collect initial and/or variation margin with respect to uncleared swaps from their counterparties that are financial end users, registered swap dealers or major swap participants. These rules do not require collection of margin from non-financial-entity end users who qualify for the end user exception from the mandatory clearing requirement or from non-financial end users or certain other counterparties in certain instances. We qualify as a non-financial-entity end user with respect to the swaps that we enter into to hedge our commercial risks.

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC adopted additional anti-manipulation and anti-disruptive trading practices regulations that prohibit, among other things, manipulative, deceptive or fraudulent schemes or material misrepresentation in the futures, options, swaps and cash markets. In addition, separate from the Dodd-Frank Act, our use of futures and options on commodities is subject to the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, as well as the rules of futures exchanges on which any of these instruments are executed. Should we violate any of these laws and regulations, we could be subject to a CFTC or an exchange enforcement action and material penalties, possibly resulting in changes in the rates we can charge.

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United Kingdom /European Regulations

Our European trading activities, which are primarily established in and operated out of the United Kingdom (“UK”), are subject to a number of European Union (“EU”) and UK laws and regulations, including but not limited to:
the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (“EMIR”), which was designed to increase the transparency and stability of the European Economic Area (“EEA”) derivatives markets;
the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (“REMIT”), which prohibits market manipulation and insider trading in EEA wholesale energy markets and imposes various transparency and other obligations on participants active in these markets;
the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation (“MiFID II”), which sets forth a financial services framework across the EEA, including rules for firms engaging in investment services and activities in connection with certain financial instruments, including a range of commodity derivatives; and
the Market Abuse Regulation (“MAR”), which was implemented to create an enhanced market abuse framework, and which applies to all financial instruments listed or traded on EEA trading venues as well as other over-the-counter (“OTC”) financial instruments priced on, or impacting, the trading venue contract.

Following the UK's departure from the EU (“Brexit”), the EU-wide rules that applied to the UK while it was a member of the EU (and during the transition period) have been replicated, subject to certain amendments, to create a parallel set of rules applicable only in the UK. As a result, we are subject to two sets of substantively similar rules based on the same underlying legislation: (i) one set of rules that apply in the EEA (i.e. not including the UK) (the “EEA Rules”); and (ii) one set of rules that apply only in the UK (the “UK Onshored Rules”).

To the extent our trading activities have a nexus with the EEA, we comply with the EEA Rules. However, as our trading activities are primarily operated out of the UK, the main rules that impact and apply to us on a day-to-day basis are the UK Onshored Rules.

In particular, under the UK Onshored Rules, firms engaging in investment services and activities under UK MiFID II must be authorized unless an exemption applies, and we qualify for an exemption and therefore do not need to be authorized under UK MiFID II.

In addition to the UK Onshored Rules, we are also subject to a separate, UK-specific regime that is not based on prior EU/EEA legislation. This is primarily set out in the UK’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) and Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 (“RAO”), which, among other things, governs the regulation of financial services and markets in the UK, and contains a definitive list of the specified kinds of activities and products that are regulated. Under these UK-specific rules, a firm engaging in regulated activities must be authorized unless an exclusion applies. We qualify under applicable exclusions and therefore are not required to be authorized under the UK FSMA/RAO regime.

Any violation of the foregoing laws and regulations could result in investigations, possible fines and penalties, and in some scenarios, criminal offenses, as well as reputational damage.

Brexit and Equivalence

The UK withdrew from the EU on January 31, 2020, with the transition period ending as of January 1, 2021. A trade deal (the “Deal”) was agreed and ratified by both the UK and the EU, avoiding a “no deal” Brexit.

One area notably absent from the Deal was financial services. The UK and EU are working towards formally agreeing a memorandum of understanding (the “MoU”) on access to financial services, the text of which was agreed in principle in March 2021. This was expected to be formally ratified and published in 2021, but so far this has not occurred. In any event, an MoU would be less far-reaching than a legal text such as an international treaty.

The issue of whether the UK's financial system will be granted “equivalence” by the EU (the scenario that would result in the least disruption and would treat compliance with UK rules as being equivalent to compliance with the corresponding EU rules) has not been resolved, and at present seems unlikely to be agreed. The UK also has the right to declare whether EU
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financial services rules are “equivalent” to its own rules. Each side's equivalence decision will be made unilaterally, and could be withdrawn unilaterally as well.

Additionally, there is no guarantee that any equivalence decision, if granted, will be comprehensive across all financial services. In the meantime, UK firms must comply with the UK Onshored Rules.

Environmental Regulation
  
Our LNG terminals are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and natural resources. These environmental laws and regulations require significant expenditures for compliance, can affect the cost and output of operations and may impose substantial penalties for non-compliance and substantial liabilities for pollution. Many of these laws and regulations, such as those noted below, restrict or prohibit impacts to the environment or the types, quantities and concentration of substances that can be released into the environment and can lead to substantial administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties for non-compliance.
 
Clean Air Act
 
Our LNG terminals are subject to the federal CAA and comparable state and local laws. We may be required to incur certain capital expenditures over the next several years for air pollution control equipment in connection with maintaining or obtaining permits and approvals addressing air emission-related issues. We do not believe, however, that our operations, or the construction and operations of our liquefaction facilities, will be materially and adversely affected by any such requirements.

In 2009, the EPA promulgated and finalized the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule requiring annual reporting of greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions from stationary sources in a variety of industries. In 2010, the EPA expanded the rule to include reporting obligations for LNG terminals. In addition, the EPA has defined GHG emissions thresholds that would subject GHG emissions from new and modified industrial sources to regulation if the source is subject to PSD Permit requirements due to its emissions of non-GHG criteria pollutants. While the EPA subsequently took a number of additional actions primarily relating to GHG emissions from the electric power generation and the oil and gas exploration and production industries, those rules were largely stayed or repealed during the Trump Administration including by amendments adopted by the EPA on February 23, 2018 and additional amendments to new source performance standards for the oil and gas industry on September 14 and 15, 2020. On November 15, 2021, the EPA proposed new regulations to reduce methane emissions from both new and existing sources within the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category. The proposed regulations if finalized, would result in more stringent requirements for new sources, expand the types of new sources covered, and for the first time, establish emissions guidelines for existing sources in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category. We are supportive of regulations reducing GHG emissions over time.

From time to time, Congress has considered proposed legislation directed at reducing GHG emissions. In addition, many states have already taken regulatory action to monitor and/or reduce emissions of GHGs, primarily through the development of GHG emission inventories or regional GHG cap and trade programs. It is not possible at this time to predict how future regulations or legislation may address GHG emissions and impact our business. However, future regulations and laws could result in increased compliance costs, the imposition of taxes or fees related to GHG emissions or additional operating restrictions and could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Coastal Zone Management Act (“CZMA”)
 
The siting and construction of our LNG terminals within the coastal zone is subject to the requirements of the CZMA. The CZMA is administered by the states (in Louisiana, by the Department of Natural Resources, and in Texas, by the General Land Office). This program is implemented to ensure that impacts to coastal areas are consistent with the intent of the CZMA to manage the coastal areas.

Clean Water Act
 
Our LNG terminals are subject to the federal CWA and analogous state and local laws. The CWA imposes strict controls on the discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters of the United States, including discharges of wastewater and storm water runoff and fill/discharges into waters of the United States. Permits must be obtained prior to discharging pollutants
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into state and federal waters. The CWA is administered by the EPA, the USACE and by the states (in Louisiana, by the LDEQ, and in Texas, by the TCEQ). The CWA regulatory programs, including the Section 404 dredge and fill permitting program and Section 401 water quality certification program carried out by the states, are frequently the subject of shifting agency interpretations and legal challenges, which at times can result in permitting delays.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”)
 
The federal RCRA and comparable state statutes govern the generation, handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes and require corrective action for releases into the environment. When such wastes are generated in connection with the operations of our facilities, we are subject to regulatory requirements affecting the handling, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of such wastes.

Protection of Species, Habitats and Wetlands

Various federal and state statutes, such as the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the CWA and the Oil Pollution Act, prohibit certain activities that may adversely affect endangered or threatened animal, fish and plant species and/or their designated habitats, wetlands, or other natural resources. If one of our LNG terminals or pipelines adversely affects a protected species or its habitat, we may be required to develop and follow a plan to avoid those impacts. In that case, siting, construction or operation may be delayed or restricted and cause us to incur increased costs.

It is not possible at this time to predict how future regulations or legislation may address protection of species, habitats and wetlands and impact our business. However, we do not believe that our operations, or the construction and operations of our liquefaction facilities, will be materially and adversely affected by such regulatory actions.

Market Factors and Competition

Market Factors

Our ability to enter into additional long-term SPAs to underpin the development of additional Trains, sale of LNG by Cheniere Marketing, or development of new projects is subject to market factors. These factors include changes in worldwide supply and demand for natural gas, LNG and substitute products, the relative prices for natural gas, crude oil and substitute products in North America and international markets, the rate of fuel switching for power generation from coal, nuclear or oil to natural gas, economic growth in developing countries and other related factors such as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, our ability to obtain additional funding to execute our business strategy is subject to the investment community’s appetite for investment in LNG and natural gas infrastructure and our ability to access capital markets.

We expect that global demand for natural gas and LNG will continue to increase as nations seek more abundant, reliable and environmentally cleaner fuel alternatives to oil and coal. Players around the globe have shown commitments to environmental goals consistent with many policy initiatives that we believe are constructive for LNG demand and infrastructure growth. Currently, significant amounts of money are being invested across Europe and Asia in natural gas projects under construction, and more continues to be earmarked to planned projects globally. Some examples include India’s commitment to invest over $60 billion to usher a gas-based economy, around $100 billion earmarked for Europe’s gas infrastructure buildout, and China’s hundreds of billions all along the natural gas value chain. We highlight regasification capacity, which will not only expand existing import capacities in rapidly growing markets like China and India, but also add new import markets all over the globe, raising the total number of import markets to approximately 60 by 2030 from 43 in 2020 and just 15 markets as recently as 2005.

As a result of these dynamics, global demand for natural gas is projected by the International Energy Agency to grow by approximately 20 trillion cubic feet (“Tcf”) between 2020 and 2030 and 33 Tcf between 2020 and 2040. LNG’s share is seen growing from about 11% in 2020 to about 12% of the global gas market in 2030 and 14% in 2040. Wood Mackenzie Limited (“WoodMac”) forecasts that global demand for LNG will increase by approximately 57%, from 366.6 mtpa, or 17.6 Tcf, in 2020, to 576.5 mtpa, or 27.7 Tcf, in 2030 and to 734.5 mtpa or 35.3 Tcf in 2040. WoodMac also forecasts LNG production from existing operational facilities and new facilities already under construction will be able to supply the market with approximately 517 mtpa in 2030, declining to 456 mtpa in 2040. This could result in a market need for construction of an additional approximately 60 mtpa of LNG production by 2030 and about 279 mtpa by 2040. As a cleaner burning fuel with far lower emissions than coal or liquid fuels in power generation, we expect gas and LNG to play a central role in balancing grids
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and contributing to a low carbon energy system globally. We believe the capital and operating costs of the uncommitted capacity of our Liquefaction Projects and Corpus Christi Stage 3 are competitive with new proposed projects globally and we are well-positioned to capture a portion of this incremental market need.

We have limited exposure to oil price movements as we have contracted a significant portion of our LNG production capacity under long-term sale and purchase agreements. These agreements contain fixed fees that are required to be paid even if the customers elect to cancel or suspend delivery of LNG cargoes.  We have contracted approximately 95% of the total production capacity from the Liquefaction Projects, including those contracts executed to support Corpus Christi Stage 3. Substantially all of our contracted capacity is from contracts with terms exceeding 10 years. Excluding contracts with terms less than 10 years, our SPAs and IPM agreements had approximately 17 years of weighted average remaining life as of December 31, 2021.

Competition

Despite the long term nature of our SPAs, when SPL, CCL or our integrated marketing function need to replace or amend any existing SPA or enter into new SPAs, they will compete with each other and other natural gas liquefaction projects throughout the world on the basis of price per contracted volume of LNG at that time. Revenues associated with any incremental volumes, including those sold by our integrated marketing function, will also be subject to market-based price competition. Many of the companies with which we compete are major energy corporations with longer operating histories, more development experience, greater name recognition, greater financial, technical and marketing resources and greater access to LNG markets than us.

SPLNG currently does not experience competition for its terminal capacity because the entire approximately 4 Bcf/d of regasification capacity that is available at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal has been fully contracted. If and when SPLNG has to replace any TUAs, it will compete with other then-existing LNG terminals for customers.

Subsidiaries
 
Our assets are generally held by our subsidiaries. We conduct most of our business through these subsidiaries, including the development, construction and operation of our LNG terminal business and the development and operation of our LNG and natural gas marketing business.

Human Capital Resources

We are in a unique position as the first U.S. LNG company in the lower 48. As the first mover, ensuring that we attract, retain and develop skilled employees has been a crucial part of our ability to grow and succeed.
 
As of January 31, 2022, we had 1,550 full-time employees with 1,456 located in the U.S. and 94 located outside of the U.S. (primarily in the UK).

Our strength comes from the collective expertise of our diverse workforce and through our core values of teamwork, respect, accountability, integrity, nimble and safety (“TRAINS”). Our employees help drive our success, build our reputation, establish our legacy and deliver on our commitments to our customers. Through fulfilling career opportunities, training, development and a competitive compensation program, we aim to keep our employees engaged. Our voluntary turnover was 5.4% for 2021.

Our Chief Human Resources Officer, along with senior leadership, are tasked with managing employment-related matters and initiatives including talent attraction and retention, rewards and remuneration, employee relations, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and training and development. We communicate progress on our human capital programs to our board of directors (our “Board”) quarterly.  

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Talent Attraction, Engagement and Retention

Through our recruitment efforts, we seek diverse talent to drive our corporate strategies and goals. We actively recruit at colleges and conduct information sessions at select universities, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (“HBCUs”) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Internally and externally, we post openings to attract individuals with a range of backgrounds, skills and experience, offering employee bonuses for referring highly qualified candidates.

We manage and measure organizational health with a view to gaining insight into employees’ experiences, levels of workplace satisfaction and feelings of engagement and inclusion with the company through biennial engagement surveys. Insights from the biennial survey are used to develop both company-wide and business unit level organizational and talent development plans and training programs.

Compensation and Benefits

We provide robust compensation and benefits programs to our employees. In addition to salaries, all employees are eligible for annual bonuses and stock awards. Benefit plans, which vary by country, include a 401(k) Plan, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, family care resources, employee assistance programs and tuition assistance. This year we have enhanced ESG-related performance criteria linked to annual incentive compensation, adding targets for actions on diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) and climate change to our Health & Safety performance goals.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to providing a diverse culture where all employees can thrive and feel welcomed and valued. To create this environment, we are committed to equal employment opportunity and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination, harassment and unlawful retaliation. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Cheniere’s TRAINS values and both our discrimination and harassment and equal employment opportunity policies demonstrate our commitment to building an inclusive workplace, regardless of race, beliefs, nationality, gender and sexual orientation or any other status protected by our policy. We have provided executives and senior management with DEI training and have begun providing Unconscious Bias training to all employees.

Through our targeted recruitment efforts, we attract a variety of candidates with a diversity of backgrounds, skills, experience and expertise. Since 2016, we have had a 20% increase in racially or ethnically diverse employees and a 24% increase in racially or ethnically diverse management. In the past five years, the percentage of female employees has remained generally consistent at approximately 27% and we have had a 22% increase in women in management positions. In 2021, we announced our multiyear commitment to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund of $500,000 in scholarships to students attending selected HBCUs. We also committed to other scholarships and community efforts throughout 2021 furthering our commitment to DEI.

We encourage our employees to leverage their unique backgrounds through involvement in various employee resource groups and employee networks. Groups such as WILS (Women Inspiring Leadership Success), EPN (Emerging Professional Network) and Cultural Champions Teams help build a culture of inclusion.

Development and Training

As the first exporter of LNG in the lower 48 of the US, we faced the unique challenge of developing our own LNG talent. Our apprenticeship program prepares local students for careers in LNG. This program combines classroom education with training and on-site learning experiences at our facilities.

We strive to provide our people with all of the tools and support necessary for them to succeed. We actively encourage our employees to take ownership of their careers and offer a number of resources to do so. Employees undergo annual performance reviews to encourage the ongoing development of their skills and expertise. To ensure safe, reliable and efficient operations in a highly regulated environment, we offer online and site-specific learning opportunities. We also provide employees, leaders and executives with targeted development programming to solidify internal talent pipelines and succession plans.

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Employee Safety, Health and Wellness

The safety of our employees, contractors and communities is one of our core values. Our Cheniere Integrated Management System defines our required safety programs and details safety and health related procedures. Safety efforts are led by our Executive Safety Committee, which includes the Chief Executive Officer, senior leaders from across the company, and representatives from each of our operating assets. We focus our efforts on continuously improving our performance. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we had one employee recordable injury and seven contractor recordable injuries. Our total recordable incident rate (employees and contractors combined) was 0.10, placing us in the top quartile of industry benchmarks based on Bureau of Labor safety statistics.

To support the well-being of our employees, we provide a wellness program that offers employees incentives to maintain an active lifestyle and set personal wellness goals. Incentives include online education related to health, nutrition, emotional health and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as subsidies for fitness devices and gym memberships. We also offer mammography screenings, rooms for nursing mothers and biometric screenings on site.

In our continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented workplace controls and risk reduction measures that have enabled us to work through several periods of elevated regional impacts from COVID-19, including the Delta and Omicron variants. We took certain measures that allow the company to maintain our operations, keep our employees safe and react quickly to any new COVID-19 risks. We also provided the same level of resources, aid and support for weather-related disasters.

Available Information

Our common stock has been publicly traded since March 24, 2003 and is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “LNG.” Our principal executive offices are located at 700 Milam Street, Suite 1900, Houston, Texas 77002, and our telephone number is (713) 375-5000. Our internet address is www.cheniere.com. We provide public access to our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file those materials with, or furnish those materials to, the SEC under the Exchange Act. These reports may be accessed free of charge through our internet website. We make our website content available for informational purposes only. The website should not be relied upon for investment purposes and is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

We will also make available to any stockholder, without charge, copies of our annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC. For copies of this, or any other filing, please contact: Cheniere Energy, Inc., Investor Relations Department, 700 Milam Street Suite 1900, Houston, Texas 77002 or call (713) 375-5000. The SEC maintains an internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers.

Additionally, we encourage you to review our Corporate Responsibility Report (located on our internet site at www.cheniere.com), for more detailed information regarding our Human Capital programs and initiatives, as well as our response to ESG issues. Nothing on our website, including our Corporate Responsibility Report or sections thereof, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS
 
The following are some of the important factors that could affect our financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or expectations contained in our forward-looking statements. We may encounter risks in addition to those described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may also impair or adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and prospects.

The risk factors in this report are grouped into the following categories:
Risks Relating to Our Financial Matters;
Risks Relating to Our Operations and Industry; and
Risks Relating to Regulations.
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Risks Relating to Our Financial Matters
 
Our existing level of cash resources and significant debt could cause us to have inadequate liquidity and could materially and adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

As of December 31, 2021, we had $1.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents, $413 million of restricted cash and cash equivalents, a total of $3.4 billion of available commitments under our credit facilities and $30.4 billion of total debt outstanding on a consolidated basis (before unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs). SPL, CQP, CCH and Cheniere operate with independent capital structures as further detailed in Note 11—Debt of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We incur, and will incur, significant interest expense relating to the assets at the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG terminals, and we anticipate incurring additional debt to finance the construction of Corpus Christi Stage 3. Our ability to fund our capital expenditures and refinance our indebtedness will depend on our ability to access additional project financing as well as the debt and equity capital markets. A variety of factors beyond our control could impact the availability or cost of capital, including domestic or international economic conditions, increases in key benchmark interest rates and/or credit spreads, the adoption of new or amended banking or capital market laws or regulations and the repricing of market risks and volatility in capital and financial markets. Our financing costs could increase or future borrowings or equity offerings may be unavailable to us or unsuccessful, which could cause us to be unable to pay or refinance our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. We also rely on borrowings under our credit facilities to fund our capital expenditures. If any of the lenders in the syndicates backing these facilities was unable to perform on its commitments, we may need to seek replacement financing, which may not be available as needed, or may be available in more limited amounts or on more expensive or otherwise unfavorable terms.

Our ability to generate cash is substantially dependent upon the performance by customers under long-term contracts that we have entered into, and we could be materially and adversely affected if any significant customer fails to perform its contractual obligations for any reason.

Our future results and liquidity are substantially dependent upon performance by our customers to make payments under long-term contracts. As of December 31, 2021, we had SPAs with terms of 10 or more years with a total of 24 different third party customers. In addition, SPLNG had TUAs with two third party customers.

While substantially all of our long-term third party customer arrangements are executed with a creditworthy parent company or secured by a parent company guarantee or other form of collateral, we are nonetheless exposed to credit risk in the event of a customer default that requires us to seek recourse.

Additionally, our long-term SPAs entitle the customer to terminate their contractual obligations upon the occurrence of certain events, which include, but are not limited to: (1) if we fail to make available specified scheduled cargo quantities; (2) delays in the commencement of commercial operations; and (3) under the majority of our SPAs, upon the occurrence of certain events of force majeure. Under each of SPLNG’s long-term TUAs, such termination events include, but are not limited to: if the Sabine Pass LNG terminal (1) experiences a force majeure delay for longer than 18 months; (2) fails to redeliver a specified amount of natural gas in accordance with the customer’s redelivery nominations; or (3) fails to accept and unload a specified number of the customer’s proposed LNG cargoes.

Although we have not had a history of material customer default or termination events, the occurrence of such events are largely outside of our control and may expose us to unrecoverable losses. We may not be able to replace these customer arrangements on desirable terms, or at all, if they are terminated. As a result, our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

Our subsidiaries may be restricted under the terms of their indebtedness from making distributions under certain circumstances, which may limit CQP’s ability to pay or increase distributions to us or inhibit our access to cash flows from the CCL Project and could materially and adversely affect us.

The agreements governing our subsidiaries’ indebtedness restrict payments that our subsidiaries can make to CQP or us in certain events and limit the indebtedness that our subsidiaries can incur. For example, SPL is restricted from making distributions under agreements governing its indebtedness generally until, among other requirements, deposits are made into debt service reserve accounts and a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25:1.00 is satisfied.

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CCH is generally restricted from making distributions under agreements governing its indebtedness until, among other requirements, the completion of the construction of Trains 1 through 3 of the CCL Project, funding of a debt service reserve account equal to six months of debt service and achieving a historical debt service coverage ratio and fixed projected debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.25:1.00.

Our subsidiaries’ inability to pay distributions to CQP or us or to incur additional indebtedness as a result of the foregoing restrictions in the agreements governing their indebtedness may inhibit CQP’s ability to pay or increase distributions to us and its other unitholders or inhibit our access to cash flows from the CCL Project, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Our efforts to manage commodity and financial risks through derivative instruments, including our IPM agreements, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We use derivative instruments to manage commodity, currency and financial market risks. The extent of our derivative position at any given time depends on our assessments of the markets for these commodities and related exposures. We currently account for all derivatives at fair value, with immediate recognition of changes in the fair value in earnings. As described in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations, our net loss attributable to common stockholders of $2.3 billion and $85 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, was primarily due to derivative losses, with substantially all of such losses relating to commodity derivative instruments indexed to international LNG prices, mainly our IPM agreements. These transactions and other derivative transactions have and may continue to result in substantial volatility in reported results of operations, particularly in periods of significant commodity, currency or financial market variability, or as a result of ineffectiveness of these contracts. For certain of these instruments, in the absence of actively quoted market prices and pricing information from external sources, the value of these financial instruments involves management’s judgment or use of estimates. Changes in the underlying assumptions or use of alternative valuation methods could affect the reported fair value of these contracts.

In addition, our liquidity may be adversely impacted by the cash margin requirements of the commodities exchanges or the failure of a counterparty to perform in accordance with a contract.

Restrictions in agreements governing us and our subsidiaries’ indebtedness may prevent us and our subsidiaries from engaging in certain beneficial transactions, which could materially and adversely affect us.

In addition to restrictions on the ability of us, CQP, SPL and CCH to make distributions or incur additional indebtedness, the agreements governing our indebtedness also contain various other covenants that may prevent us from engaging in beneficial transactions, including limitations on our ability to:
make certain investments;
purchase, redeem or retire equity interests;
issue preferred stock;
sell or transfer assets;
incur liens;
enter into transactions with affiliates;
consolidate, merge, sell or lease all or substantially all of our assets; and
enter into sale and leaseback transactions.

Any restrictions on the ability to engage in beneficial transactions could materially and adversely affect us.

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The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly in the past and is susceptible to fluctuations in the future due to market volatility and other factors. Our stockholders could lose all or part of their investment.

The market price of our common stock has historically experienced and may continue to experience volatility. For example, during the three-year period ended December 31, 2021, the market price of our common stock ranged between $27.06 and $113.40. Such fluctuations may continue as a result of a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:
domestic and worldwide supply of and demand for natural gas and corresponding fluctuations in the price of natural gas;
sales of a high volume of shares of our common stock by our stockholders;
operating and stock price performance of companies that investors deem comparable to us;
events affecting other companies that the market deems comparable to us;
changes in government regulation or proposals applicable to us;
actual or potential non-performance by any customer or a counterparty under any agreement;
announcements made by us or our competitors of significant contracts;
changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;
general conditions in the industries in which we operate;
general economic conditions;
the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock or changes in financial or other estimates by analysts;
changes in investor sentiment regarding the energy industry and fossil fuels;
volatility in our earnings attributable to common stockholders, which may be impacted by our use of derivative instruments as further described in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations, market conditions and other factors; and
other factors described in these “Risk Factors.”

In addition, the United States securities markets have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies in these markets. Market fluctuations and broad market, economic and industry factors may negatively affect the price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. If we were to be the object of securities class litigation as a result of volatility in our common stock price or for other reasons, it could result in substantial diversion of our management’s attention and resources, which could negatively affect our financial results.

Our ability to declare and pay dividends and repurchase shares is subject to certain considerations.

Dividends are authorized and determined by our Board in its sole discretion and depend upon a number of factors, including:
Cash available for distribution;
Our results of operations and anticipated future results of operations;
Our financial condition, especially in relation to the anticipated future capital needs of any expansion of our Liquefaction Facilities;
The level of distributions paid by comparable companies;
Our operating expenses; and
Other factors our Board deems relevant.

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We expect to continue to pay quarterly dividends to our stockholders; however, our Board may reduce our dividend or cease declaring dividends at any time, including if it determines that our net cash provided by operating activities, after deducting capital expenditures and investments, are not sufficient to pay our desired levels of dividends to our stockholders or to pay dividends to our stockholders at all.

Additionally as of December 31, 2021, $998 million of repurchase authority remained of the $1 billion share repurchase program our Board had authorized. Our share repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire a specific number of shares during any period, and our decision to commence, discontinue or resume repurchases in any period will depend on the same factors that our Board may consider when declaring dividends, among others.

Any downward revision in the amount of dividends we pay to stockholders or the number of shares we purchase under our share repurchase program could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

We may sell equity or equity-related securities or assets, including equity interests in CQP. Such sales could dilute our proportionate interests in our assets, business operations and proposed projects of CQP or other subsidiaries, and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We have historically pursued a number of alternatives in order to finance the construction of our Trains, including potential issuances and sales of additional equity or equity-related securities by our subsidiaries. Such sales, in one or more transactions, could dilute our proportionate indirect interests in our assets, business operations and proposed projects of CQP, including the SPL Project, or in other subsidiaries or projects, including the CCL Project. In addition, such sales, or the anticipation of such sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Risks Relating to Our Operations and Industry
 
Catastrophic weather events or other disasters could result in an interruption of our operations, a delay in the completion of our Liquefaction Projects, damage to our Liquefaction Projects and increased insurance costs, all of which could adversely affect us.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Hurricane Ike in 2008, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020 and Winter Storm Uri in 2021 caused interruptions or temporary suspension in construction or operations at our facilities or caused minor damage to our facilities. Future storms and related storm activity and collateral effects, or other disasters such as explosions, fires, floods or accidents, could result in damage to, or interruption of operations at, the Sabine Pass LNG terminal, the Corpus Christi LNG terminal or related infrastructure, as well as delays or cost increases in the construction and the development of the Liquefaction Projects, Corpus Christi Stage 3 or our other facilities and increase our insurance premiums. The U.S. Global Change Research Program has reported that the U.S.’s energy and transportation systems are expected to be increasingly disrupted by climate change and extreme weather events. An increase in frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as storms, floods, fires and rising sea levels could have an adverse effect on our operations.

Our ability to complete development of additional Trains, including Corpus Christi Stage 3, will be contingent on our ability to obtain additional funding. If we are unable to obtain sufficient funding, we may be unable to fully execute our business strategy.

We continuously pursue liquefaction expansion opportunities and other projects along the LNG value chain. As described further in Items 1. and 2. Business and Properties, we are currently developing the Corpus Christi Stage 3 project, which includes an expansion adjacent to the CCL Project for up to seven midscale Trains with an expected total production capacity of over 10 mtpa of LNG. The commercial development of an LNG facility takes a number of years and requires a substantial capital investment that is dependent on sufficient funding and commercial interest, among other factors.

We will require significant additional funding to be able to commence construction of Corpus Christi Stage 3, and any additional expansion projects, which we may not be able to obtain at a cost that results in positive economics, or at all. The inability to achieve acceptable funding may cause a delay in the development of Corpus Christi Stage 3, or any additional expansion projects, and we may not be able to complete our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

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Cost overruns and delays in the completion of our expansion projects, including Corpus Christi Stage 3, as well as difficulties in obtaining sufficient financing to pay for such costs and delays, could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

While we expect to reach FID on Corpus Christi Stage 3, our investment decision on the project and any potential future LNG facilities relies on cost estimates developed initially through front end engineering and design studies. However, due to the size and duration of construction of an LNG facility, the actual construction costs may be significantly higher than our current estimates as a result of many factors, including but not limited to changes in scope, the ability of Bechtel and our other contractors to execute successfully under their agreements, changes in commodity prices (particularly nickel and steel), escalating labor costs and the potential need for additional funds to be expended to maintain construction schedules or comply with existing or future environmental or other regulations. As construction progresses, we may decide or be forced to submit change orders to our contractor that could result in longer construction periods, higher construction costs or both, including change orders to comply with existing or future environmental or other regulations. Additionally, our SPAs generally provide that the customer may terminate that SPA if the relevant Train does not timely commence commercial operations. As a result, any significant construction delay, whatever the cause, could have a material adverse impact on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Significant increases in the cost of a liquefaction project beyond the amounts that we estimate could impact the commercial viability of the project as well as require us to obtain additional sources of financing to fund our operations until the applicable liquefaction project is fully constructed (which could cause further delays), thereby negatively impacting our business and limiting our growth prospects. While historically we have not experienced cost overruns or construction delays that have had a significant adverse impact on our operations, factors giving rise to such events in the future may be outside of our control and could have a material adverse effect on our current or future business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Disruptions to the third party supply of natural gas to our pipelines and facilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We depend upon third party pipelines and other facilities that provide gas delivery options to our liquefaction facilities and pipelines. If the construction of new or modified pipeline connections is not completed on schedule or any pipeline connection were to become unavailable for current or future volumes of natural gas due to repairs, damage to the facility, lack of capacity, failure to replace contracted firm pipeline transportation capacity on economic terms, or any other reason, our ability to receive natural gas volumes to produce LNG or to continue shipping natural gas from producing regions or to end markets could be adversely impacted. Any significant disruption to our natural gas supply could result in a substantial reduction in our revenues under our long-term SPAs or other customer arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We may not be able to purchase or receive physical delivery of sufficient natural gas to satisfy our delivery obligations under the SPAs, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Under the SPAs with our customers, we are required to make available to them a specified amount of LNG at specified times. However, we may not be able to purchase or receive physical delivery of sufficient quantities of natural gas to satisfy those obligations, which may provide affected SPA customers with the right to terminate their SPAs. Our failure to purchase or receive physical delivery of sufficient quantities of natural gas could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We are subject to significant construction and operating hazards and uninsured risks, one or more of which may create significant liabilities and losses for us.

The construction and operation of our LNG terminals and our pipelines are, and will be, subject to the inherent risks associated with these types of operations, including explosions, breakdowns or failures of equipment, operational errors by vessel or tug operators, pollution, release of toxic substances, fires, hurricanes and adverse weather conditions and other hazards, each of which could result in significant delays in commencement or interruptions of operations and/or in damage to or destruction of our facilities or damage to persons and property. In addition, our operations and the facilities and vessels of third parties on which our operations are dependent face possible risks associated with acts of aggression or terrorism.

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We do not, nor do we intend to, maintain insurance against all of these risks and losses. We may not be able to maintain desired or required insurance in the future at rates that we consider reasonable. The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured or indemnified against could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We are dependent on our EPC partners and other contractors for the successful completion of the Liquefaction Projects and any potential expansion projects, including Corpus Christi Stage 3.

Timely and cost-effective completion of the Liquefaction Projects and any potential expansion projects in compliance with agreed specifications is central to our business strategy and is highly dependent on the performance of our EPC partners, including Bechtel, and our other contractors under their agreements. The ability of our EPC partners and our other contractors to perform successfully under their agreements is dependent on a number of factors, including their ability to:
design and engineer each Train to operate in accordance with specifications;
engage and retain third party subcontractors and procure equipment and supplies;
respond to difficulties such as equipment failure, delivery delays, schedule changes and failure to perform by subcontractors, some of which are beyond their control;
attract, develop and retain skilled personnel, including engineers;
post required construction bonds and comply with the terms thereof;
manage the construction process generally, including coordinating with other contractors and regulatory agencies; and
maintain their own financial condition, including adequate working capital.

Although some agreements may provide for liquidated damages if the contractor fails to perform in the manner required with respect to certain of its obligations, the events that trigger a requirement to pay liquidated damages may delay or impair the operation of the Liquefaction Projects or any expansion projects, and any liquidated damages that we receive may not be sufficient to cover the damages that we suffer as a result of any such delay or impairment. The obligations of EPC partners and our other contractors to pay liquidated damages under their agreements are subject to caps on liability, as set forth therein.

Furthermore, we may have disagreements with our contractors about different elements of the construction process, which could lead to the assertion of rights and remedies under their contracts and increase the cost of the Liquefaction Projects and any potential expansion project or result in a contractor’s unwillingness to perform further work. If any contractor is unable or unwilling to perform according to the negotiated terms and timetable of its respective agreement for any reason or terminates its agreement, we would be required to engage a substitute contractor. This would likely result in significant project delays and increased costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

There may be impediments to the transport of LNG, such as shortages of LNG vessels worldwide or operational impacts on LNG shipping, including maritime transportation routes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

The construction and delivery of LNG vessels require significant capital and long construction lead times. Additionally, the availability of LNG vessels and transportation costs could be impacted to the detriment of our business and our customers because of:
an inadequate number of shipyards constructing LNG vessels and a backlog of orders at these shipyards;
shortages of or delays in the receipt of necessary construction materials;
political or economic disturbances;
acts of war or piracy;
changes in governmental regulations or maritime self-regulatory organizations;
work stoppages or other labor disturbances;
bankruptcy or other financial crisis of shipbuilders or shipowners;
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quality or engineering problems;
disruptions to maritime transportation routes; and
weather interference or a catastrophic event, such as a major earthquake, tsunami or fire.

Cyclical or other changes in the demand for and price of LNG and natural gas may adversely affect our LNG business and the performance of our customers and could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Our LNG business and the development of domestic LNG facilities and projects generally is based on assumptions about the future availability and price of natural gas and LNG, and the prospects for international natural gas and LNG markets. Natural gas and LNG prices have been, and are likely to continue to be, volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to one or more of the following factors:
competitive liquefaction capacity in North America;
insufficient or oversupply of natural gas liquefaction or receiving capacity worldwide;
insufficient LNG tanker capacity;
weather conditions, including temperature volatility resulting from climate change, and extreme weather events may lead to unexpected distortion in the balance of international LNG supply and demand. For example, LNG procurement in Japan rose dramatically in 2011 and several years thereafter following a tsunami that caused extensive destruction to its nuclear power infrastructure;
reduced demand and lower prices for natural gas;
increased natural gas production deliverable by pipelines, which could suppress demand for LNG;
decreased oil and natural gas exploration activities which may decrease the production of natural gas, including as a result of any potential ban on production of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing;
cost improvements that allow competitors to provide natural gas liquefaction capabilities at reduced prices;
changes in supplies of, and prices for, alternative energy sources such as coal, oil, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind and solar energy, which may reduce the demand for natural gas;
changes in regulatory, tax or other governmental policies regarding imported or exported LNG, natural gas or alternative energy sources, which may reduce the demand for imported or exported LNG and/or natural gas;
political conditions in natural gas producing regions;
sudden decreases in demand for LNG as a result of natural disasters or public health crises, including the occurrence of a pandemic, and other catastrophic events;
adverse relative demand for LNG compared to other markets, which may decrease LNG imports into or exports from North America; and
cyclical trends in general business and economic conditions that cause changes in the demand for natural gas.

Adverse trends or developments affecting any of these factors could result in decreases in the price of LNG and/or natural gas, which could materially and adversely affect the performance of our customers, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Failure of imported or exported LNG to be a competitive source of energy for the United States or international markets could adversely affect our customers and could materially and adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Operations of the Liquefaction Projects are dependent upon the ability of our SPA customers to deliver LNG supplies from the United States, which is primarily dependent upon LNG being a competitive source of energy internationally. The success of our business plan is dependent, in part, on the extent to which LNG can, for significant periods and in significant volumes, be supplied from North America and delivered to international markets at a lower cost than the cost of alternative energy sources. Through the use of improved exploration technologies, additional sources of natural gas may be discovered
25



outside the United States, which could increase the available supply of natural gas outside the United States and could result in natural gas in those markets being available at a lower cost than LNG exported to those markets.

Although SPL has entered into arrangements to utilize up to approximately three-quarters of the regasification capacity at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in connection with operations of the SPL Project, operations at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal are dependent, in part, upon the ability of our TUA customers to import LNG supplies into the United States, which is primarily dependent upon LNG being a competitive source of energy in North America. In North America, due mainly to a historically abundant supply of natural gas and discoveries of substantial quantities of unconventional, or shale, natural gas, imported LNG has not developed into a significant energy source. The success of the regasification services component of our business plan is dependent, in part, on the extent to which LNG can, for significant periods and in significant volumes, be produced internationally and delivered to North America at a lower cost than the cost to produce some domestic supplies of natural gas, or other alternative energy sources. Through the use of improved exploration technologies, additional sources of natural gas have recently been and may continue to be discovered in North America, which could further increase the available supply of natural gas and could result in natural gas being available at a lower cost than imported LNG.

Political instability in foreign countries that import or export natural gas, or strained relations between such countries and the United States, may also impede the willingness or ability of LNG purchasers or suppliers and merchants in such countries to import or export LNG from or to the United States. Furthermore, some foreign purchasers or suppliers of LNG may have economic or other reasons to obtain their LNG from, or direct their LNG to, non-U.S. markets or from or to our competitors’ liquefaction or regasification facilities in the United States.

In addition to natural gas, LNG also competes with other sources of energy, including coal, oil, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind and solar energy. LNG from the Liquefaction Projects also competes with other sources of LNG, including LNG that is priced to indices other than Henry Hub. Some of these sources of energy may be available at a lower cost than LNG from the Liquefaction Projects in certain markets. The cost of LNG supplies from the United States, including the Liquefaction Projects, may also be impacted by an increase in natural gas prices in the United States.

As a result of these and other factors, LNG may not be a competitive source of energy in the United States or internationally. The failure of LNG to be a competitive supply alternative to local natural gas, oil and other alternative energy sources in markets accessible to our customers could adversely affect the ability of our customers to deliver LNG from the United States or to the United States on a commercial basis. Any significant impediment to the ability to deliver LNG to or from the United States generally, or to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal or the Corpus Christi LNG terminal or from the Liquefaction Projects specifically, could have a material adverse effect on our customers and on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We face competition based upon the international market price for LNG.
    
Our Liquefaction Projects are subject to the risk of LNG price competition at times when we need to replace any existing SPA, whether due to natural expiration, default or otherwise, or enter into new SPAs. Factors relating to competition may prevent us from entering into a new or replacement SPA on economically comparable terms as existing SPAs, or at all. Such an event could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects. Factors which may negatively affect potential demand for LNG from our Liquefaction Projects are diverse and include, among others:
increases in worldwide LNG production capacity and availability of LNG for market supply;
increases in demand for LNG but at levels below those required to maintain current price equilibrium with respect to supply;
increases in the cost to supply natural gas feedstock to our Liquefaction Projects;
decreases in the cost of competing sources of natural gas or alternate fuels such as coal, heavy fuel oil and diesel;
decreases in the price of non-U.S. LNG, including decreases in price as a result of contracts indexed to lower oil prices;
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increases in capacity and utilization of nuclear power and related facilities; and
displacement of LNG by pipeline natural gas or alternate fuels in locations where access to these energy sources is not currently available.

A cyber attack involving our business, operational control systems or related infrastructure, or that of third party pipelines which supply the Liquefaction Facilities, could negatively impact our operations, result in data security breaches, impede the processing of transactions or delay financial or compliance reporting. These impacts could materially and adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow and liquidity.

The pipeline and LNG industries are increasingly dependent on business and operational control technologies to conduct daily operations. We rely on control systems, technologies and networks to run our business and to control and manage our trading, marketing, pipeline, liquefaction and shipping operations. Cyber attacks on businesses have escalated in recent years, including as a result of geopolitical tensions, and use of the internet, cloud services, mobile communication systems and other public networks exposes our business and that of other third parties with whom we do business to potential cyber attacks, including third party pipelines which supply natural gas to our Liquefaction Facilities. For example, in 2021 Colonial Pipeline suffered a ransomware attack that led to the complete shutdown of its pipeline system for six days. Should a multiple of the third party pipelines which supply our Liquefaction Facilities suffer similar concurrent attacks, the Liquefaction Facilities may not be able to obtain sufficient natural gas to operate at full capacity, or at all. A cyber attack involving our business or operational control systems or related infrastructure, or that of third party pipelines with which we do business, could negatively impact our operations, result in data security breaches, impede the processing of transactions, or delay financial or compliance reporting. These impacts could materially and adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow and liquidity.

We may experience increased labor costs, and the unavailability of skilled workers or our failure to attract and retain qualified personnel could adversely affect us. In addition, changes in our senior management or other key personnel could affect our business results.

We are dependent upon the available labor pool of skilled employees. We compete with other energy companies and other employers to attract and retain qualified personnel with the technical skills and experience required to construct and operate our facilities and pipelines and to provide our customers with the highest quality service. We are also subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs such matters as minimum wage, overtime and other working conditions. A shortage in the labor pool of skilled workers, remoteness of our site locations or other general inflationary pressures, changes in applicable laws and regulations or labor disputes could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified personnel and could require an increase in the wage and benefits packages that we offer, thereby increasing our operating costs. Any increase in our operating costs could materially and adversely affect our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

We depend on our executive officers for various activities. We do not maintain key person life insurance policies on any of our personnel. Although we have arrangements relating to compensation and benefits with certain of our executive officers, we do not have any employment contracts or other agreements with key personnel other than our employment agreement with our President and Chief Executive Officer binding them to provide services for any particular term. The loss of the services of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as the outbreak of COVID-19, at one or more of our facilities could adversely affect our operations.

Our facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and Corpus Christi LNG terminal are critical infrastructure and have continued to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic through our implementation of workplace controls and pandemic risk reduction measures. While the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Delta and Omicron variants, has had no adverse impact on our on-going operations during this time, the risk of future variants is unknown. While we believe we can continue to mitigate any significant adverse impact to our employees and operations at our critical facilities related to the virus in its current form, the outbreak of a more potent variant in the future at one or more of our facilities could adversely affect our operations.

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Risks Relating to Regulations

Failure to obtain and maintain approvals and permits from governmental and regulatory agencies with respect to the design, construction and operation of our facilities, the development and operation of our pipelines and the export of LNG could impede operations and construction and could have a material adverse effect on us.

The design, construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines, LNG terminals, including the Liquefaction Projects, Corpus Christi Stage 3 and other facilities, as well as the import and export of LNG and the purchase and transportation of natural gas, are highly regulated activities. Approvals of the FERC and DOE under Section 3 and Section 7 of the NGA, as well as several other material governmental and regulatory approvals and permits, including several under the CAA and the CWA, are required in order to construct and operate an LNG facility and an interstate natural gas pipeline and export LNG.

To date, the FERC has issued orders under Section 3 of the NGA authorizing the siting, construction and operation of the six Trains and related facilities of the SPL Project, the three Trains and related facilities of the CCL Project and the seven midscale Trains and related facilities for Corpus Christi Stage 3, as well as orders under Section 7 of the NGA authorizing the construction and operation of the Creole Trail Pipeline, the Corpus Christi Pipeline and the pipeline for Corpus Christi Stage 3. To date, the DOE has also issued orders under Section 4 of the NGA authorizing SPL, CCL and Corpus Christi Stage 3 to export domestically produced LNG. Additionally, we hold certificates under Section 7(c) of the NGA that grant us land use rights relating to the situation of our pipelines on land owned by third parties. If we were to lose these rights or be required to relocate our pipelines, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Authorizations obtained from the FERC, DOE and other federal and state regulatory agencies contain ongoing conditions that we must comply with. Failure to comply with such conditions, or our inability to obtain and maintain existing or newly imposed approvals and permits, filings, which may arise due to factors outside of our control such as a U.S. government disruption or shutdown, political opposition or local community resistance to the siting of LNG facilities due to safety, environmental or security concerns, could impede the operation and construction of our infrastructure. There is no assurance that we will obtain and maintain these governmental permits, approvals and authorizations, or that we will be able to obtain them on a timely basis. Any impediment could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.
 
Our interstate natural gas pipelines and their FERC gas tariffs are subject to FERC regulation. If we fail to comply with such regulations, we could be subject to substantial penalties and fines.

Our interstate natural gas pipelines are subject to regulation by the FERC under the NGA and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (the “NGPA”). The FERC regulates the purchase and transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, including the construction and operation of pipelines, the rates, terms and conditions of service and abandonment of facilities. Under the NGA, the rates charged by our interstate natural gas pipelines must be just and reasonable, and we are prohibited from unduly preferring or unreasonably discriminating against any person with respect to pipeline rates or terms and conditions of service. If we fail to comply with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations and orders, our interstate pipelines could be subject to substantial penalties and fines.

In addition, as a natural gas market participant, should we fail to comply with all applicable FERC-administered statutes, rules, regulations and orders, we could be subject to substantial penalties and fines. Under the EPAct, the FERC has civil penalty authority under the NGA and the NGPA to impose penalties for current violations of up to $1.3 million per day for each violation.

Existing and future environmental and similar laws and governmental regulations could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating costs or construction costs and restrictions.
    
Our business is and will be subject to extensive federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations applicable to our construction and operation activities relating to, among other things, air quality, water quality, waste management, natural resources and health and safety. Many of these laws and regulations, such as the CAA, the Oil Pollution Act, the CWA and the RCRA, and analogous state laws and regulations, restrict or prohibit the types, quantities and concentration of substances that can be released into the environment in connection with the construction and operation of our facilities, and require us to maintain permits and provide governmental authorities with access to our facilities for inspection and reports related to our
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compliance. In addition, certain laws and regulations authorize regulators having jurisdiction over the construction and operation of our LNG terminals and pipelines, including FERC and PHMSA, to issue compliance orders, which may restrict or limit operations or increase compliance or operating costs. Violation of these laws and regulations could lead to substantial liabilities, compliance orders, fines and penalties or to capital expenditures that could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects. Federal and state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the lawfulness of the original conduct, for the release of certain types or quantities of hazardous substances into the environment. As the owner and operator of our facilities, we could be liable for the costs of cleaning up hazardous substances released into the environment at or from our facilities and for resulting damage to natural resources.
    
In 2009, the EPA promulgated and finalized the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule requiring annual reporting of GHG emissions from stationary sources in a variety of industries. In 2010, the EPA expanded the rule to include reporting obligations for LNG terminals. In addition, the EPA has defined GHG emissions thresholds that would subject GHG emissions from new and modified industrial sources to regulation if the source is subject to PSD Permit requirements due to its emissions of non-GHG criteria pollutants. While the EPA subsequently took a number of additional actions primarily relating to GHG emissions from the electric power generation and the oil and gas exploration and production industries, those rules were largely stayed or repealed during the Trump Administration including by amendments adopted by the EPA on February 23, 2018 and additional amendments to new source performance standards for the oil and gas industry on September 14 and 15, 2020. On November 15, 2021, the EPA proposed new regulations to reduce methane emissions from both new and existing sources within the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category. The proposed regulations, if finalized, would result in more stringent requirements for new sources, expand the types of new sources covered, and for the first time, establish emissions guidelines for existing sources in the Crude Oil and Natural Gas source category. In addition, other federal and state initiatives may be considered in the future to address GHG emissions through, for example, United States treaty commitments, direct regulation, market-based regulations such as a carbon emissions tax or cap-and-trade programs or clean energy standards. Such initiatives could affect the demand for or cost of natural gas, which we consume at our terminals, or could increase compliance costs for our operations. We are supportive of regulations reducing GHG emissions over time.
    
Other future legislation and regulations, such as those relating to the transportation and security of LNG imported to or exported from our terminals or climate policies of destination countries in relation to their obligations under the Paris Agreement or other national climate change-related policies, could cause additional expenditures, restrictions and delays in our business and to our proposed construction activities, the extent of which cannot be predicted and which may require us to limit substantially, delay or cease operations in some circumstances. Revised, reinterpreted or additional laws and regulations that result in increased compliance costs or additional operating or construction costs and restrictions could have a material adverse effect on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.

Pipeline safety and compliance programs and repairs may impose significant costs and liabilities on us.

The PHMSA requires pipeline operators to develop management programs to safely operate and maintain their pipelines and to comprehensively evaluate certain areas along their pipelines and take additional measures where necessary to protect pipeline segments located in “high or moderate consequence areas” where a leak or rupture could potentially do the most harm. As an operator, we are required to:
perform ongoing assessments of pipeline safety and compliance;
identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a “high consequence area”;
improve data collection, integration and analysis;
repair and remediate the pipeline as necessary; and
implement preventative and mitigating actions.

We are required to maintain pipeline integrity testing programs that are intended to assess pipeline integrity. Any repair, remediation, preventative or mitigating actions may require significant capital and operating expenditures. Should we fail to comply with applicable statutes and the Office of Pipeline Safety’s rules and related regulations and orders, we could be subject to significant penalties and fines, which for certain violations can aggregate up to as high as $2.3 million.

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Additions or changes in tax laws and regulations could potentially affect our financial results.

We are subject to various types of tax arising from normal business operations in the jurisdictions in which we operate and transact. Any changes to local, domestic or international tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application, including those with retroactive effect, could affect our tax obligations, profitability and cash flows in the future.

Additionally, there have been a number of tax reform proposals introduced in Congress recently that have proposed applying a corporate level tax to oil and gas master limited partnerships, such as CQP. If such a proposal were to be enacted, it would represent a substantial departure from current tax law, subjecting CQP to an entity level corporate tax, which could adversely impact the cash distributions that we receive from CQP. In addition, tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate may change significantly due to political or economic factors beyond our control. We continuously monitor and assess proposed tax legislation that could negatively impact our business.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We may in the future be involved as a party to various legal proceedings, which are incidental to the ordinary course of business. We regularly analyze current information and, as necessary, provide accruals for probable liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters.

LDEQ Matter

Certain of our subsidiaries are in discussions with the LDEQ to resolve self-reported deviations arising from operation of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and the commissioning of the SPL Project, and relating to certain requirements under its Title V Permit. The matter involves deviations self-reported to LDEQ pursuant to the Title V Permit and covering the time period from January 1, 2012 through March 25, 2016. On April 11, 2016, certain of our subsidiaries received a Consolidated Compliance Order and Notice of Potential Penalty (the “Compliance Order”) from LDEQ covering deviations self-reported during that time period. Certain of our subsidiaries continue to work with LDEQ to resolve the matters identified in the Compliance Order. We do not expect that any ultimate sanction will have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

PHMSA Matter

In February 2018, the PHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order (the “CAO”) to SPL in connection with a minor LNG leak from one tank and minor vapor release from a second tank at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal (the “2018 SPL tank incident”). These two tanks have been taken out of operational service while we conduct analysis, repair and remediation. On April 20, 2018, SPL and PHMSA executed a Consent Agreement and Order (the “Consent Order”) that replaces and supersedes the CAO. On July 9, 2019, PHMSA and FERC issued a joint letter setting out operating conditions required to be met prior to SPL returning the tanks to service. In July 2021, PHMSA issued a Notice of Probable Violation (“NOPV”) and Proposed Civil Penalty to SPL alleging violations of federal pipeline safety regulations relating to the 2018 SPL tank incident and proposing civil penalties totaling $2,214,900. On September 16, 2021, PHMSA issued an Amended NOPV that reduced the proposed penalty to $1,458,200. On October 12, 2021, SPL responded to the Amended NOPV, electing not to contest the alleged violations in the Amended NOPV and electing to pay the proposed reduced penalty. PHMSA notified SPL in a letter dated November 9, 2021 that the case was considered “closed.” SPL continues to coordinate with PHMSA and FERC to address the matters relating to the 2018 SPL tank incident, including repair approach and related analysis. We do not expect that the Consent Order and related analysis, repair and remediation or resolution of the NOPV will have a material adverse impact on our financial results or operations.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information, Holders and Dividend Policy

Our common stock has traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “LNG” since March 24, 2003. As of February 18, 2022, we had 254 million shares of common stock outstanding held by 92 record owners.

In September 2021, Cheniere declared an inaugural quarterly dividend of $0.33 per common share. On January 25, 2022, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per common share that is payable on February 28, 2022 to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2022. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board, and will depend on Cheniere’s financial condition and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table summarizes stock repurchases for the three months ended December 31, 2021:
PeriodTotal Number of Shares Purchased (1)Average Price Paid Per Share (2)Total Number of Shares Purchased as a Part of Publicly Announced PlansApproximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans (3)
October 1 - 31, 202122,220$98.2317,949$998,251,447
November 1 - 30, 2021603$105.34$998,251,447
December 1 - 31, 202111,046$99.946,895$997,572,653
Total33,869$98.9224,844
(1)Includes issued shares surrendered to us by participants in our share-based compensation plans for payment of applicable tax withholdings on the vesting of share-based compensation awards. Associated shares surrendered by participants are repurchased pursuant to terms of the plan and award agreements and not as part of the publicly announced share repurchase plan.
(2)The price paid per share was based on the average trading price of our common stock on the dates on which we repurchased the shares.
(3)On June 3, 2019, we announced that our Board authorized a 3-year, $1 billion share repurchase program. On September 7, 2021, the Board authorized a reset of the share repurchase program to $1.0 billion, inclusive of any amounts remaining under the previous authorization as of September 30, 2021, for an additional three years beginning on October 1, 2021. For additional information, see Note 19—Stockholders Equity of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Total Stockholder Return

The following is a customized peer group consisting of 17 companies (the “Peer Group”) that were selected because they are publicly traded companies that have: (1) comparable Global Industries Classification Standards, (2) similar market capitalization, (3) similar enterprise values and (4) similar operating characteristics and capital intensity.
Peer Group
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD)
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC)
Baker Hughes Company (BKR)
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY)
ConocoPhillips (COP)
ONEOK, Inc. (OKE)
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD)
Phillips 66 (PSX)
EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG)Suncor Energy Inc. (SU)
Halliburton Company (HAL)Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP)
Hess Corporation (HES)Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI)
The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB)
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB)

The following graph compares the five-year total return on our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and our Peer Group. The graph was constructed on the assumption that $100 was invested in our common stock, the S&P 500 Index and our Peer Group on December 31, 2016 and that any dividends were fully reinvested.
Company / Index201620172018201920202021
Cheniere Energy, Inc.$100.00 $129.95 $142.87 $147.41 $144.90 $245.56 
S&P 500 Index100.00 121.82 116.47 153.13 181.29 233.28 
Peer Group100.00 107.02 92.33 112.72 83.18 120.28 

lng-20211231_g3.jpg

ITEM 6.    [Reserved]

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Introduction
 
The following discussion and analysis presents management’s view of our business, financial condition and overall performance and should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. This information is intended to provide investors with an understanding of our past performance, current financial condition and outlook for the future. Discussion of 2019 items and variance drivers between the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to December 31, 2019 are not included herein, and can be found in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Our discussion and analysis includes the following subjects: 
Overview 
Overview of Significant Events 
Market Environment
Results of Operations 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates 
Recent Accounting Standards

Overview
 
We are an energy infrastructure company primarily engaged in LNG-related businesses. We provide clean, secure and affordable LNG to integrated energy companies, utilities and energy trading companies around the world. We operate two natural gas liquefaction and export facilities at Sabine Pass, Louisiana and near Corpus Christi, Texas (respectively, the “Sabine Pass LNG Terminal” and “Corpus Christi LNG Terminal”) with a total of nine operational natural gas liquefaction Trains, regasification facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal and pipelines that interconnect our facilities to several interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines (the SPL Project and CCL Project, respectively, and collectively, the “Liquefaction Projects”). We are also developing an expansion of the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal. For further discussion of our business, see Items 1. and 2. Business and Properties.

Our long-term customer arrangements form the foundation of our business and provide us with significant, stable, long-term cash flows. We have contracted approximately 95% of the total production capacity from the Liquefaction Projects, including those contracts executed to support the expansion of the Corpus Christi LNG terminal adjacent to the CCL Project (“Corpus Christi Stage 3”). Excluding contracts with terms less than 10 years, our SPAs and IPM agreements had approximately 17 years of weighted average remaining life. The majority of our contracts are fixed-priced, long-term SPAs consisting of a fixed fee per MMBtu of LNG plus a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG, with the variable fees generally structured to cover the cost of natural gas purchases and transportation and liquefaction fuel to produce LNG, thus limiting our exposure to fluctuations in U.S. natural gas prices. During 2021, we continued to grow our SPA portfolio, and we believe that continued global demand for natural gas and LNG, as further described in Items 1. and 2. Business and Properties—Market Factors and Competition, will provide a foundation for additional growth in our portfolio of customer contracts in the future. The continued strength and stability of our long-term cash flows served as the foundation of our long-term capital allocation plan announced in 2021, which includes strengthening of balance sheet, capital return and accretive growth priorities.

Overview of Significant Events

Our significant events since January 1, 2021 and through the filing date of this Form 10-K include the following:
Strategic

In February 2022, CCL Stage III amended the IPM agreement previously entered into with EOG Resources, Inc. (“EOG”), increasing the volume and term of natural gas supply from 140,000 MMBtu per day for 10 years, to 420,000
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MMBtu per day for 15 years, with pricing continuing to be based on the Platts Japan Korea Marker (“JKM”). Under the amended IPM agreement, supply is targeted to commence upon completion of Trains 1, 4 and 5 of Corpus Christi Stage 3. In addition, the previously executed gas supply agreement (“GSA”), under which EOG sells 300,000 MMBtu per day to CCL Stage III at a price indexed to Henry Hub, has been extended by 5 years, resulting in a 15 year term that is expected to commence upon start-up of the amended IPM agreement.
In September 2021, our board of directors (our “Board”) approved a long-term capital allocation plan which includes (1) the repurchase, repayment or retirement of approximately $1.0 billion of existing indebtedness of the Company each year through 2024 with the intent of achieving consolidated investment grade credit metrics, (2) initiation of a quarterly dividend for third quarter 2021 at $0.33 per share and (3) the authorization of a reset in the share repurchase program to $1.0 billion, inclusive of any amounts remaining under the previous authorization as of September 30, 2021, for a three-year term effective October 1, 2021.
In July 2021, CCL Stage III entered into an IPM agreement with Tourmaline Oil Marketing Corp., a subsidiary of Tourmaline Oil Corp., to purchase 140,000 MMBtu per day of natural gas at a price based on JKM, for a term of approximately 15 years beginning in early 2023.
In July 2021, the Board appointed Mses. Patricia K. Collawn and Lorraine Mitchelmore to serve as members of the Board. Ms. Collawn was appointed to the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board, and Ms. Mitchelmore was appointed to the Audit Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board.
Our subsidiaries entered into SPAs with multiple counterparties for portfolio volumes aggregating approximately 67 million tonnes of LNG to be delivered between 2021 and 2042, inclusive of long-term SPAs entered into with ENN LNG (Singapore) Pte Ltd., a subsidiary of Glencore plc and Sinochem Group Co., Ltd.

Operational

As of February 18, 2022, over 2,000 cumulative LNG cargoes totaling approximately 140 million tonnes of LNG have been produced, loaded and exported from the Liquefaction Projects.
On February 4, 2022, substantial completion of Train 6 of the SPL Project was achieved.
On March 26, 2021, substantial completion of Train 3 of the CCL Project was achieved.

Financial

We completed the following debt transactions:
In December 2021, we issued a notice of redemption for all $625 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 (the “2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes”), which were redeemed on January 5, 2022.
In December 2021, SPL issued Senior Secured Notes due 2037 on a private placement basis for an aggregate principal amount of approximately $482 million (the “2037 SPL Private Placement Senior Secured Notes”). The 2037 SPL Private Placement Senior Secured Notes are fully amortizing, with a weighted average life of over 10 years and a weighted average interest rate of 3.07%.
In September 2021, CQP issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.2 billion of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “2032 CQP Senior Notes”).
The proceeds, net of related fees, costs and expenses (“net proceeds”) of the 2032 CQP Senior Notes were used to redeem a portion of the outstanding $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 CQP Senior Notes”). The remaining net proceeds of the 2032 CQP Senior Notes, along with the net proceeds of the 2037 SPL Private Placement Senior Secured Notes and cash on hand, were used to redeem the outstanding $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “2022 SPL Senior Notes”).
In October 2021, we amended and restated our $1.25 billion Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility (“Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility”) to, among other things, (1) extend the maturity through October 2026, (2) reduce the interest rate and commitment fees, which can be further reduced based on our credit ratings and may be positively or negatively adjusted up to five basis points on the interest rate and up to one basis point on the
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commitment fees based on the achievement of defined ESG milestones and (3) make certain other changes to the terms and conditions of the existing revolving credit facility.
In August 2021, CCH issued an aggregate principal amount of $750 million of fully amortizing 2.742% Senior Secured Notes due 2039 (the “2.742% CCH Senior Secured Notes”). The net proceeds of the 2.742% CCH Senior Secured Notes were used to prepay a portion of the principal amount outstanding under CCH’s amended and restated term loan credit facility (the “CCH Credit Facility”).
In March 2021, CQP issued an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.5 billion of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 CQP Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the 2031 CQP Senior Notes, along with cash on hand, were used to redeem the 5.250% Senior Notes due 2025.
In line with our capital allocation plan, during the year ended December 31, 2021, on a consolidated basis, we reduced our long-term indebtedness by $1.2 billion, extended the weighted-average maturity of our outstanding debt by over one year and lowered our weighted average borrowing rate.
In April 2021, S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) changed the outlook of Cheniere and CQP’s ratings to positive from negative, and in February 2022, upgraded its issuer credit ratings of Cheniere and CQP from BB to BB+.
In February 2021, Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) changed the outlook of SPL’s senior secured notes rating to positive from stable and the outlook of CQP’s long-term issuer default rating and senior unsecured notes rating to positive from stable.
In July 2021, we recommenced share repurchase activities, with 101,944 shares repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2021 for $9 million.
In January 2021, the term commenced on Cheniere Marketing International LLP’s 25 year SPA with CPC Corporation, Taiwan.

Market Environment

The LNG market in 2021 saw unprecedented price increases across all natural gas and LNG benchmarks. Colder than normal temperatures early in the year, concerns over low natural gas and LNG inventories, low additional LNG supply availability and forecasts of a cold 2021/2022 winter in Europe and Asia increased price volatility and supported a run-up in natural gas and LNG prices. These conditions were exacerbated by rising coal and carbon prices in Europe, persistent under-performance from some non-US LNG supply projects and reduced Russian pipe exports to Europe, precipitating the early stages of a price-based energy crisis in Europe.

High demand for LNG during the recovery from the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in intense competition for supplies between the Atlantic and Pacific basins. Global LNG demand grew by about approximately 5% from the comparable 2020 period, adding an additional 18 mtpa to the overall market. A robust economic recovery in China powered an 8% increase in Asia’s LNG demand of approximately 19.5 million tonnes from the comparable 2020 period. This led to competition for supplies between Asia, Europe and Latin America, exposing the supply constraints that the industry has had while emerging from the pandemic. In turn, this drove international natural gas and LNG prices higher and widened the price spreads between the U.S. and other parts of the world. As an example, the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (“TTF”) monthly settlement prices averaged $14.4/MMBtu in 2021, approximately 375% higher than the $3.0/MMBtu average in 2020, and the TTF monthly settlement prices averaged $28.9/MMBtu in the fourth quarter of 2021, approximately 512% higher than the $4.72/MMBtu average in the fourth quarter of 2020. Similarly, the 2021 average settlement price for the JKM increased 292% year-over-year to an average of $15.0/MMBtu in 2021, and the fourth quarter of 2021 average settlement price for the JKM increased over 412% year-over-year to an average of $27.9/MMBtu. This extreme price increase triggered a strong supply response from the U.S., which played a significant role in balancing the global LNG market. The U.S. exported 70 million tonnes of LNG in 2021, a gain of approximately 49% from the comparable 2020 period, as the market continued to pull on supplies from our facilities and those of our competitors. Exports from our Liquefaction Projects reached 39 million tonnes in aggregate, representing over 55% of the gain in the U.S. total over the same period.

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Results of Operations

The following charts summarize the total revenues and total LNG volumes loaded from our Liquefaction Projects (including both operational and commissioning volumes) during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
lng-20211231_g4.jpglng-20211231_g5.jpg
The following table summarizes the volumes of operational and commissioning LNG cargoes that were loaded from the Liquefaction Projects, which were recognized on our Consolidated Financial Statements during the year ended December 31, 2021:
Year Ended December 31, 2021
(in TBtu)OperationalCommissioning
Volumes loaded during the current period1,975 40 
Volumes loaded during the prior period but recognized during the current period26 
Less: volumes loaded during the current period and in transit at the end of the period(49)(1)
Total volumes recognized in the current period1,952 42 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions, except per share data)20212020Variance ($)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders$(2,343)$(85)$(2,258)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted(9.25)(0.34)(8.91)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders increased by $2.3 billion during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020, primarily due to the increase in derivative losses from changes in fair value and settlements of $5.8 billion (pre-tax and excluding the impact of non-controlling interest) between the periods as further described below and non-recurrence of $969 million in revenues recognized on LNG cargoes for which customers notified us that they would not take delivery. This impact was partially offset by increased margin on LNG delivered as a result of increases in both volume delivered and gross margin on LNG delivered per MMBtu during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020, as well as a tax benefit recorded during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Substantially all derivative losses relate to the use of commodity derivative instruments indexed to international LNG prices, primarily related to our IPM agreements. While operationally we utilize commodity derivatives to mitigate price volatility for commodities procured or sold over a period of time, as a result of significant appreciation in forward international LNG commodity curves during the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized $4.5 billion of non-cash unfavorable changes in fair value attributed to positions indexed to such prices (pre-tax and excluding the impact of non-controlling interest).

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Derivative instruments, which in addition to managing exposure to commodity-related marketing and price risks are utilized to manage exposure to changing interest rates and foreign exchange volatility, are reported at fair value on our Consolidated Financial Statements. For commodity derivative instruments related to our IPM agreements, the underlying transactions being economically hedged are accounted for under the accrual method of accounting, whereby revenues and expenses are recognized only upon delivery, receipt or realization of the underlying transaction. Because the recognition of derivative instruments at fair value has the effect of recognizing gains or losses relating to future period exposure, and given the significant volumes, long-term duration and volatility in price basis for certain of our derivative contracts, use of derivative instruments may result in continued volatility of our results of operations based on changes in market pricing, counterparty credit risk and other relevant factors, notwithstanding the operational intent to mitigate risk exposure over time.

Revenues
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20212020Variance ($)
LNG revenues$15,395 $8,924 $6,471 
Regasification revenues269 269 — 
Other revenues200 165 35 
Total revenues$15,864 $9,358 $6,506 

Total revenues increased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020, primarily as a result of increased revenues per MMBtu and higher volume of LNG delivered between the periods. Revenues per MMBtu of LNG were higher due to improved market prices recognized by our integrated marketing function as a result of appreciation in international LNG prices and increases in Henry Hub prices, as well as variable fees that are received in addition to fixed fees when the customers take delivery of scheduled cargoes as opposed to exercising their contractual right to not take delivery. The volume of LNG delivered between the periods increased due to the non-recurrence of notification by our customers to not take delivery of scheduled LNG cargoes during the year ended December 31, 2021 and as a result of production from Train 3 of the CCL Project, which achieved substantial completion on March 26, 2021.

Prior to substantial completion of a Train, amounts received from the sale of commissioning cargoes from that Train are offset against LNG terminal construction-in-process, because these amounts are earned or loaded during the testing phase for the construction of that Train. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we realized offsets to LNG terminal costs of $319 million and $19 million, corresponding to 42 TBtu and 3 TBtu respectively, that were related to the sale of commissioning cargoes from Train 3 of the CCL Project and Train 6 of the SPL Project.

Also included in LNG revenues are sales of certain unutilized natural gas procured for the liquefaction process and other revenues, which was $320 million and $466 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, LNG revenues include gains and losses from derivative instruments, which include the realized value associated with a portion of derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery. We recognized offsets to revenues of $1.8 billion and $30 million during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the gains and losses from derivative instruments due to shifts in forward commodity curves.

We expect the volume of LNG produced and available for sale to increase in the future as Train 6 of the SPL Project achieved substantial completion on February 4, 2022.

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The following table presents the components of LNG revenues and the corresponding LNG volumes delivered:
Year Ended December 31,
 20212020
LNG revenues (in millions):
LNG from the Liquefaction Projects sold under third party long-term agreements (1)$11,990 $6,303 
LNG from the Liquefaction Projects sold by our integrated marketing function under short-term agreements4,361 802 
LNG procured from third parties499 414 
LNG revenues associated with cargoes not delivered per customer notification (2)— 969 
Net derivative losses(1,776)(30)
Other revenues321 466 
Total LNG revenues$15,395 $8,924 
Volumes delivered as LNG revenues (in TBtu):
LNG from the Liquefaction Projects sold under third party long-term agreements (1)1,608 1,158 
LNG from the Liquefaction Projects sold by our integrated marketing function under short-term agreements344 227 
LNG procured from third parties45 103 
Total volumes delivered as LNG revenues1,997 1,488 
(1)Long-term agreements include agreements with an initial tenure of 12 months or more.
(2)LNG revenues include revenues with no corresponding volumes due to revenues attributable to LNG cargoes for which customers notified us that they would not take delivery.

Operating costs and expenses
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20212020Variance ($)
Cost of sales $13,773 $4,161 $9,612 
Operating and maintenance expense1,444 1,320 124 
Development expense
Selling, general and administrative expense325 302 23 
Depreciation and amortization expense1,011 932 79 
Impairment expense and loss on disposal of assets(1)
Total operating costs and expenses$16,565 $6,727 $9,838 

Our total operating costs and expenses increased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020, primarily as a result of increased cost of sales. Cost of sales includes costs incurred directly for the production and delivery of LNG from the Liquefaction Projects, to the extent those costs are not utilized for the commissioning process. Cost of sales increased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable 2020 period, primarily due to increased pricing of natural gas feedstock as a result of higher U.S. natural gas prices and increased volume of LNG delivered, as well as unfavorable changes in our commodity derivatives to secure natural gas feedstock for the Liquefaction Projects driven by unfavorable shifts in international forward commodity curves, as discussed above under Net loss attributable to common stockholders. Cost of sales also includes costs associated with the sale of certain unutilized natural gas procured for the liquefaction process and a portion of derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery, port and canal fees, variable transportation and storage costs, net of margins from the sale of natural gas procured for the liquefaction process and other costs to convert natural gas into LNG.

Operating and maintenance expense primarily includes costs associated with operating and maintaining the Liquefaction Projects. During the year ended December 31, 2021, operating and maintenance expense increased from the comparable period in 2020, primarily due to increased natural gas transportation and storage capacity demand charges and increased third party service, generally as a result of an additional Train that was in operation between the periods. Operating and maintenance expense also includes insurance and regulatory and other operating costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020 as a result of commencing operations of Train 3 of the CCL Project in March 2021.
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We expect our operating costs and expenses to generally increase as Train 6 of the SPL Project achieved substantial completion on February 4, 2022, although we expect certain costs will not proportionally increase with the number of operational Trains as cost efficiencies will be realized.

Other expense
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20212020Variance ($)
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest$1,438 $1,525 $(87)
Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt116 217 (101)
Interest rate derivative loss, net233 (232)
Other expense, net22 112 (90)
Total other expense$1,577 $2,087 $(510)

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, decreased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable 2020 period as a result of lower interest costs as a result of refinancing higher cost debt and repayment of debt in accordance with our capital allocation plan, partially offset by the portion of total interest costs that was eligible for capitalization due to the completion of construction of Train 3 of the CCL Project in March 2021. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we incurred $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion of total interest cost, respectively, of which we capitalized $166 million and $248 million, respectively, which was primarily related to interest costs incurred for the construction of the Liquefaction Projects.

Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt decreased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020 due to a lower amount of debt that was paid down prior to their scheduled maturities between the periods, as further described in Liquidity and Capital Resources—Sources and Uses of Cash—Financing Cash Flows.

Interest rate derivative loss, net decreased during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the comparable 2020 period, primarily due to the settlement of certain outstanding derivatives in August 2020 that were in an unfavorable position and a favorable shift in the long-term forward LIBOR curve between the periods

Other expense, net decreased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the comparable period in 2020 primarily due to lower other-than-temporary impairment losses related to our investment in Midship Holdings, LLC that were recognized between the periods. These impairment losses were partially offset by an increase in interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents.

Income tax provision (benefit)
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20212020Variance
Income (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interest$(2,278)$544 $(2,822)
Income tax provision (benefit)$(713)$43 $(756)
Effective tax rate31.3 %7.9 %23.4 %

Our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 reflected a 31.3% tax benefit, compared to a 7.9% tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2020. The recorded tax benefit for 2021 was greater than the statutory income tax rate primarily due to income allocated to non-controlling interest that is not taxable to Cheniere and the partial release of the valuation allowance on our Louisiana net operating loss carryforwards. The prior year tax expense was lower than the statutory income tax rate primarily due to income allocated to non-controlling interest that is not taxable to Cheniere. See further discussion in Note 15 – Income Taxes of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our effective tax rate is subject to variation prospectively due to variability in our pre-tax and taxable earnings and the proportion of such earnings attributable to non-controlling interests.

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Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)20212020Variance ($)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest$778 $586 $192 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest increased during the year ended December 31, 2021 from the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to an increase in consolidated net income recognized by CQP, which increased from net income of $1.2 billion in the year ended December 31, 2020 to $1.6 billion in the year ended December 31, 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following information describes our ability to generate and obtain adequate amounts of cash to meet our requirements in the short term and the long term. In the short term, we expect to meet our cash requirements using operating cash flows and available liquidity, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and available commitments under our credit facilities. In the long term, we expect to meet our cash requirements using operating cash flows and other future potential sources of liquidity, which may include debt and equity offerings by us or our subsidiaries. The table below provides a summary of our available liquidity as of December 31, 2021 (in millions). Future material sources of liquidity are discussed below.
December 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents (1)$1,404 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents designated for the following purposes:
SPL Project98 
CCL Project44 
Cash held by our subsidiaries that is restricted to Cheniere271 
Available commitments under our credit facilities (2):
$1.2 billion Working Capital Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement (the “2020 SPL Working Capital Facility”)
805 
CQP Credit Facilities executed in 2019 (“2019 CQP Credit Facilities”)750 
$1.2 billion CCH Working Capital Facility (“CCH Working Capital Facility”)589 
Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility
1,250 
Total available commitments under our credit facilities3,394 
Total available liquidity$5,211 
(1)Amounts presented include balances held by our consolidated variable interest entity, CQP, as discussed in Note 9—Non-controlling Interest and Variable Interest Entity of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. As of December 31, 2021, assets of CQP, which are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, included $0.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents.
(2)Available commitments represent total commitments less loans outstanding and letters of credit issued under each of our credit facilities as of December 31, 2021. See Note 11Debt of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our credit facilities and other debt instruments.

Our liquidity position subsequent to December 31, 2021 is driven by future sources of liquidity and future cash requirements. Future sources of liquidity are expected to be composed of (1) cash receipts from executed contracts, under which we are contractually entitled to future consideration, and (2) additional sources of liquidity, from which we expect to receive cash although the cash is not underpinned by executed contracts. Future cash requirements are expected to be composed of (1) cash payments under executed contracts, under which we are contractually obligated to make payments, and (2) additional cash requirements, under which we expect to make payments although we are not contractually obligated to make the payments under executed contracts. Future sources of liquidity and future cash requirements are estimates based on management’s assumptions and currently known market conditions and other factors as of December 31, 2021.

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Although material sources of liquidity and material cash requirements are presented below from a consolidated standpoint, SPL, CQP, CCH and Cheniere operate with independent capital structures. Certain restrictions under debt and equity instruments executed by our subsidiaries limit each entity’s ability to distribute cash, including the following:
SPL and CCH are required to deposit all cash received into restricted cash and cash equivalents accounts under certain of their debt agreements. The usage or withdrawal of such cash is restricted to the payment of liabilities related to the Liquefaction Projects and other restricted payments. The majority of the cash held by SPL and CCH that is restricted to Cheniere relates to advance funding for operation and construction of the Liquefaction Projects;
CQP is required under its partnership agreement to distribute to unitholders all available cash on hand at the end of a quarter less the amount of any reserves established by its general partner. Our 48.6% limited partner interest, 100% general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in CQP limit our right to receive cash held by CQP to the amounts specified by the provisions of CQP’s partnership agreement; and
SPL, CQP and CCH are restricted by affirmative and negative covenants included in certain of their debt agreements in their ability to make certain payments, including distributions, unless specific requirements are satisfied.

Notwithstanding the restrictions noted above, we believe that sufficient flexibility exists within the Cheniere complex to enable each independent capital structure to meet its currently anticipated cash requirements. The sources of liquidity at SPL, CQP and CCH primarily fund the cash requirements of the respective entity, and any remaining liquidity not subject to restriction, as supplemented by liquidity provided by Cheniere Marketing, is available to enable Cheniere to meet its cash requirements.

Future Sources and Uses of Liquidity

Future Sources of Liquidity under Executed Contracts

Because many of our sales contracts have long-term durations, we are contractually entitled to significant future consideration under our SPAs and TUAs which has not yet been recognized as revenue. This future consideration is in most cases not yet legally due to us and was not reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021. In addition, a significant portion of this future consideration is subject to variability as discussed more specifically below. We anticipate that this consideration will be available to meet liquidity needs in the future. The following table summarizes our estimate of future material sources of liquidity to be received from executed contracts as of December 31, 2021 (in billions):
 Estimated Revenues Under Executed Contracts by Period (1)
 2022
2023 - 2026
ThereafterTotal
LNG revenues (fixed fees) (2)$5.7 $25.0 $76.4 $107.1 
LNG revenues (variable fees) (2) (3)8.0 30.6 103.4 142.0 
Regasification revenues0.3 1.0 0.6 1.9 
Financial derivatives (4)(0.3)— — (0.3)
Total$13.7 $56.6 $180.4 $250.7 
(1)Excludes contracts for which conditions precedent have not been met. Agreements in force as of December 31, 2021 that have terms dependent on project milestone dates are based on the estimated dates as of December 31, 2021. The timing of revenue recognition under GAAP may not align with cash receipts, although we do not consider the timing difference to be material. The estimates above reflect management’s assumptions and currently known market conditions and other factors as of December 31, 2021. Estimates are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially as a result of a variety of factors described in this annual report on Form 10-K.
(2)LNG revenues exclude revenues from contracts with original expected durations of one year or less. Fixed fees are fees that are due to us regardless of whether a customer exercises their contractual right to not take delivery of an LNG cargo under the contract. Variable fees are receivable only in connection with LNG cargoes that are delivered.
(3)LNG revenues (variable fees) reflect the assumption that customers elect to take delivery of all cargoes made available under the contract. LNG revenues (variable fees) are based on estimated forward prices and basis spreads as of December 31, 2021. The pricing structure of our SPA arrangements with our customers incorporates a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG generally equal to 115% of Henry Hub, which is paid upon delivery, thus limiting our net exposure to future increases in natural gas prices. Certain of our contracts contain additional variable consideration based on the
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outcome of contingent events and the movement of various indexes. We have not included such variable consideration to the extent the consideration is considered constrained due to the uncertainty of ultimate pricing and receipt.
(4)Financial derivatives include certain LNG Trading Derivatives that are recorded as LNG Revenues based on the nature and intent of the derivative instrument. Pricing of financial derivatives is based on estimated forward prices and basis spreads as of December 31, 2021.

LNG Revenues

We have contracted substantially all of the total production capacity from the Liquefaction Projects. The majority of the contracted capacity is comprised of fixed-price, long-term SPAs that SPL and CCL have executed with third parties to sell LNG from Trains 1 through 6 of the SPL Project and Trains 1 through 3 of the CCL Project. Substantially all of our contracted capacity is from contracts with terms exceeding 10 years. Excluding contracts with terms less than 10 years, our SPAs had approximately 17 years of weighted average remaining life as of December 31, 2021. Under the SPAs, the customers purchase LNG on a free on board (“FOB”) basis for a price consisting of a fixed fee per MMBtu of LNG (a portion of which is subject to annual adjustment for inflation) plus a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG generally equal to 115% of Henry Hub. Certain customers may elect to cancel or suspend deliveries of LNG cargoes, with advance notice as governed by each respective SPA, in which case the customers would still be required to pay the fixed fee with respect to the contracted volumes that are not delivered as a result of such cancellation or suspension. The variable fees under our SPAs were generally sized with the intention to cover the costs of gas purchases and variable transportation and liquefaction fuel to produce the LNG to be sold under each such SPA. In aggregate, the annual fixed fee portion to be paid by the third-party SPA customers is approximately $2.9 billion for Trains 1 through 5 of the SPL Project. After giving effect to an SPA that Cheniere has committed to provide to SPL and upon the date of first commercial delivery of Train 6 of the SPL Project, the annual fixed fee portion to be paid by the third-party SPA customers is expected to increase to at least $3.3 billion. In aggregate, the minimum annual fixed fee portion to be paid by the third-party SPA customers is approximately $1.8 billion for Trains 1 through 3 of the CCL Project. Our long-term SPA customers consist of creditworthy counterparties, with an average credit rating of A-, A3 and A- by S&P, Moody’s Corporation and Fitch, respectively. A discussion of revenues under our SPAs can be found in Note 13—Revenues from Contracts with Customers of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

We market and sell LNG produced by the Liquefaction Projects that is not required for other customers through our integrated marketing function, Cheniere Marketing. Cheniere Marketing has a portfolio of long-, medium- and short-term SPAs to deliver commercial LNG cargoes to locations worldwide. These volumes are expected to be primarily sourced by LNG produced by the Liquefaction Projects but supplemented by volumes procured from other locations worldwide, as needed.

As of December 31, 2021, Cheniere Marketing has sold or has options to sell approximately 7,974 TBtu of LNG to be delivered to third party customers between 2022 and 2045, including 7,791 TBtu from long-term executed contracts that are included in the Future Sources of Liquidity under Executed Contracts table above. The cargoes have been sold either on a FOB basis (delivered to the customer at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal or the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal, as applicable) or a delivered at terminal (“DAT”) basis (delivered to the customer at their specified LNG receiving terminal).

Regasification Revenues

SPLNG has entered into two long-term, third party TUAs, under which SPLNG’s customers are required to pay fixed monthly fees, whether or not they use the approximately 2 Bcf/d of the regasification capacity they have reserved at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal. Total and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (“Chevron”) are each obligated to make monthly capacity payments to SPLNG aggregating approximately $125 million annually, prior to inflation adjustments, for 20 years that commenced in 2009. Total S.A. has guaranteed Total’s obligations under its TUA up to $2.5 billion, subject to certain exceptions, and Chevron Corporation has guaranteed Chevron’s obligations under its TUA up to 80% of the fees payable by Chevron.

SPLNG has also entered into a TUA with SPL to reserve the remaining capacity at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal. SPL is obligated to make monthly capacity payments to SPLNG aggregating approximately $250 million annually, prior to inflation adjustments, continuing until at least May 2036. SPL entered into a partial TUA assignment agreement with Total, whereby SPL gained access to substantially all of Total’s capacity and other services provided under Total’s TUA with SPLNG that started in 2019. Notwithstanding any arrangements between Total and SPL, payments required to be made by Total to SPLNG will continue to be made by Total to SPLNG in accordance with its TUA. Payments made by SPL to Total under this partial TUA assignment agreement are included in other purchase obligations in the Future Cash Requirements for Operations and
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Capital Expenditures under Executed Contracts table below. Full discussion of SPLNG’s revenues under the TUA agreements and the partial TUA assignment can be found in Note 13—Revenues from Contracts with Customers of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial Derivatives

Cheniere Marketing has entered into financial derivatives to minimize future cash flow variability associated with Cheniere Marketing’s LNG agreements. Full discussion of financial derivatives can be found in Note 7—Derivative Instruments of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Additional Future Sources of Liquidity

Available Commitments under Credit Facilities

As of December 31, 2021, we had $3.4 billion in available commitments under our credit facilities, subject to compliance with the applicable covenants, to potentially meet liquidity needs. Our credit facilities mature between 2023 and 2026.

Uncontracted Liquefaction Supply

We expect a portion of total production capacity from the Liquefaction Projects that has not yet been contracted under executed agreements as of December 31, 2021 to be available for Cheniere Marketing to market to additional LNG customers. Debottlenecking opportunities and other optimization projects have led to increased run-rate production levels which has increased the production capacity available for Cheniere Marketing to the extent it has not already been contracted to other customers.

Financially Disciplined Growth

We expect to reach FID on Corpus Christi Stage 3 in 2022 based on our progress in commercializing the project and the strong global LNG market. Corpus Christi Stage 3 is a shovel-ready, brownfield project with an incremental liquefaction capacity of approximately 10 mtpa. Beyond Corpus Christi Stage 3, our significant land positions at the Corpus Christi and Sabine Pass LNG terminals provide potential development and investment opportunities for further liquefaction capacity expansion at strategically advantaged locations with proximity to pipeline infrastructure and resources.

Future Cash Requirements for Operations and Capital Expenditures under Executed Contracts

We are committed to make future cash payments for operations and capital expenditures pursuant to certain of our contracts. The following table summarizes our estimate of material cash requirements for operations and capital expenditures under executed contracts as of December 31, 2021 (in billions):
 Estimated Payments Due Under Executed Contracts by Period (1)
 2022
2023 - 2026
ThereafterTotal
Purchase obligations (2):
Natural gas supply agreements (3)$8.4 $15.3 $12.5 $36.2 
Natural gas transportation and storage service agreements (4)0.4 1.6 4.0 6.0 
Capital expenditures (5)0.2 — — 0.2 
Other purchase obligations (6)0.4 0.6 0.6 1.6 
Leases (7)0.8 2.0 0.9 3.7 
Total$10.2 $19.5 $18.0 $