FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Abiteboul Jean
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
08/22/2006		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CHENIERE ENERGY INC [LNG]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
717 TEXAS AVENUE, SUITE 3100		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Member of the Exec. Committee
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 70002		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 25,000 (1)
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)   (2) 02/20/2016 Common Stock 50,000 $ 40.65 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Abiteboul Jean
717 TEXAS AVENUE
SUITE 3100
HOUSTON, TX 70002		       Member of the Exec. Committee

Signatures

Jean Abiteboul 08/24/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The shares were issued as a restricted stock grant, which vests in four equal installments on February 20, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and is subject to additional restrictions. Except for certain exceptions, the stock will not be transferred or delivered to Mr. Abiteboul prior to February 20, 2008.
(2) The option grant vests in four equal installments on February 20, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

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