Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

HOUSTON, Feb. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“Cheniere Partners”) (NYSE MKT: CQP) reported a net loss of $56.0 million and $318.9 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, respectively, compared to a net loss of $70.8 million and $410.0 million for the same periods in 2014, respectively. 

Significant items for the three months ended December 31, 2015 totaled a gain of $4.8 million, compared to a loss $30.2 million for the comparable 2014 period, and related to derivative gains due primarily to changes in long-term LIBOR during the period. The significant item for the three months ended December 31, 2014 related to derivative losses. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, significant items totaled a loss of $138.0 million, compared to a loss of $233.7 million for the comparable 2014 period. Significant items for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 related to loss on early extinguishment of debt associated with the write-off of debt issuance costs by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”) primarily in connection with the refinancing of a portion of its credit facilities in March 2015, and derivative losses primarily attributable to the termination of interest rate swaps. Significant items for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 related to derivative losses, and losses on early extinguishment of debt.

General and administrative expense (including affiliate) increased by $14.8 million and $22.2 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the corresponding 2014 periods, primarily due to costs of services provided by Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LNG) pursuant to an information technology services agreement.

Sabine Pass LNG Terminal

We are developing up to six natural gas liquefaction trains (“Trains”), each with an expected nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG, at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities (the “Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project”).

The Trains are in various stages of development, with construction of the first Train complete and the commissioning process underway. Train 1 has begun producing LNG, and the first LNG commissioning cargo is expected to be exported late February / March. Commissioning for Train 2 is expected to commence in the upcoming months. The remaining Trains are expected to commence commissioning on a staggered basis thereafter.

• Construction on Trains 1 and 2 began in August 2012, and as of December 31, 2015, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 1 and 2 was approximately 97.4%, which is ahead of the contractual schedule. Based on the recently updated construction and commissioning schedule, we expect to export the first LNG commissioning cargo in late February or March 2016.
• Construction on Trains 3 and 4 began in May 2013, and as of December 31, 2015, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 3 and 4 was approximately 79.5%, which is ahead of the contractual schedule. We expect Trains 3 and 4 to become operational in 2017.
• Construction on Train 5 began in June 2015, and as of December 31, 2015, the overall project completion percentage for Train 5 was approximately 14.9%, which is ahead of the contractual schedule. Engineering, procurement and construction were approximately 41.9%, 20.5% and 0.1% complete, respectively. We expect Train 5 to become operational in 2019.
• Train 6 is currently under development, with all necessary regulatory approvals in place. We expect to make a final investment decision and commence construction on Train 6 upon, among other things, entering into acceptable commercial arrangements and obtaining adequate financing.

Distributions to Unitholders

We paid a cash distribution per common unit of $0.425 to unitholders of record as of February 1, 2016, and the related general partner distribution on February 12, 2016.

We estimate that the annualized distribution to common unitholders for fiscal year 2016 will be $1.70 per unit.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., Cheniere Partners owns 100% of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located on the Sabine-Neches Waterway less than four miles from the Gulf Coast. The Sabine Pass LNG terminal includes existing infrastructure of five LNG storage tanks with capacity of approximately 16.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), two docks that can accommodate vessels with nominal capacity of up to 266,000 cubic meters and vaporizers with regasification capacity of approximately 4.0 Bcf/d. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Cheniere Creole Trail Pipeline, L.P., Cheniere Partners also owns a 94-mile pipeline that interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of large interstate pipelines.

Cheniere Partners, through its subsidiary, SPL, is developing and constructing natural gas liquefaction facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities. Cheniere Partners, through SPL, plans to construct over time up to six liquefaction trains, which are in various stages of development. Each liquefaction train is expected to have a nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 mtpa of LNG. SPL has entered into six third-party LNG sale and purchase agreements (“SPAs”) that in the aggregate equate to approximately 19.75 mtpa of LNG and commence with the date of first commercial delivery of Trains 1 through 5 as specified in the respective SPAs.

For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking statements” are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere Partners’ business strategy, plans and objectives, including the development, construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii) statements regarding expectations regarding regulatory authorizations and approvals, (iii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere Partners’ LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (iv) statements regarding the business operations and prospects of third parties, (v) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, and (vi) statements regarding future discussions and entry into contracts. Although Cheniere Partners believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere Partners’ actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners’ periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere Partners does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.