Energy Transfer is putting Lake Charles LNG on pause and redirecting attention to lower-risk, fee-based buildout across its domestic network. For 2026, ET guided to $5.0 to $5.5B of capex, largely tied to natural gas network projects, while citing concerns about global LNG oversupply in its decision to pause the Lake Charles LNG export project.
The story here is not “new LNG export greenfields.” It is a mix of (1) domestic gas transportation expansions that serve downstream markets and power load, plus (2) processing growth in the Permian, and (3) a separate NGL export capacity track centered on the Gulf Coast.
ET’s own project materials highlight the same three lanes. On gas, the Transwestern Desert Southwest expansion is framed as a contracted, demand-pull buildout moving Permian gas toward the Southwest, with ET evaluating upside beyond the currently planned capacity.
On processing, ET calls out Mustang Draw I (275 MMcf/d, targeted Q2 2026) and Mustang Draw II (250 MMcf/d, targeted Q4 2026) as concrete Midland Basin additions.
On NGL exports, ET highlights the Nederland Flexport expansion, expected to add up to 250,000 bbl/d of NGL export capacity at Nederland Terminal, with ethylene noted as ready for service.
Why it matters
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Lake Charles LNG is paused, explicitly. Say it in the lead, not only in the title.
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Gas is the domestic pipeline story: Desert Southwest is about serving Southwest markets, not LNG feedgas by default.
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NGL is a separate growth track: Nederland Flexport is export capacity, do not blend it into “gas pipeline capex.”
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Processing is the near-term Permian lever: Mustang Draw I and II are scheduled, named additions with dates and capacities.
What the map shows
A focused South/Southwest view of ET assets tied to what the company highlighted: Transwestern Desert Southwest expansion corridor, Mustang Draw processing complex (I and II), Nederland Terminal (Flexport expansion), key fractionation hubs, and Lake Charles LNG (paused).
A deeper dive with DataLink
Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
- Locate the Permian processing sites ET highlighted (Mustang Draw I and II)
- Track NGL corridors into Gulf Coast fractionation and export touchpoints
- Contextualize the Desert Southwest corridor relative to Permian supply and downstream markets
- Keep the “gas network” story and “NGL export” story cleanly separated in one view
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