Rio Bravo Pipeline Project
The Rio Bravo Pipeline Project is designed to transport up to 4.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Agua Dulce supply area to NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project in Brownsville, Texas.
The Rio Bravo Pipeline Project will provide 100 percent of the natural gas supply to NextDecade’s Rio Grande liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas.
The project consists of approximately 137 miles of new 48-inch- and 42-inch-diameter pipelines from a new compressor station in Kleberg County to NextDecade's facility in Brownsville.
Rio Bravo will provide pipeline infrastructure facilities to enable the Terminal to export natural gas to foreign markets, while also producing local, regional, and national benefits and minimizing environmental impacts.
All necessary regulatory authorizations from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other federal and state agencies are required before construction of the project can commence. Pending the approval and receipt of all necessary permits, construction would begin in 2025 with a target in-service date during the second half of 2026.
On March 26, 2024, Enbridge announced it had entered into an agreement to form a joint venture that will develop, build, own, and operate natural gas pipeline and storage assets connecting Permian Basin natural gas supply to growing LNG and U.S. Gulf Coast demand.
Upon closing of the transaction, Enbridge will contribute its wholly owned Rio Bravo pipeline project and ~US$350MM in cash to the joint venture, and will fund the first ~US$150MM of the post-closing capex to complete the Rio Bravo pipeline project. Enbridge will receive a 19% equity interest in the joint venture and retain a 25% economic interest in the Rio Bravo pipeline project, subject to certain redemption rights of the joint venture partners.
Project overview:
- Type: Natural gas pipeline
- Status: Under review
- Expected to transport: Natural gas
- In-service target date: 2026
- Ownership: Enbridge (100%)
Project Information:
Project Updates
- September 2019: NextDecade and Enbridge Announce Strategic MOU for the Development of Rio Bravo Pipeline for the Rio Grande LNG Project. Read the release.
- November 2019: FERC approves the Rio Bravo Pipeline Project under Docket No. CP16-455-000.
- March 2020: NextDecade and Enbridge Sign Definitive Agreement Regarding Rio Bravo Pipeline whereby Enbridge acquires and assumes all responsibilities for the development, construction and operation of the pipeline. Read the release.
- June 2020: Amendment to the certificate of public convenience and necessity filed under Docket No. CP20-481-000.
- April 2023: FERC approves amendment to the certificate under Docket No. CP20-481-000.
- July 2023: Second amendment to the certificate filed under Docket No. CP23-519-000.
On July 20, 2023, Rio Bravo submitted a second amendment to the application to adjust the pipeline route to align the FERC-approved route with other permits and other federal guidance. The adjusted route will minimize impacts to potential ocelot habitat, address U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerns regarding impacts on this habitat and species, address agency and landowner concerns, avoid recently constructed infrastructure, increase constructability, enhance safety of construction and operations, affect fewer wetlands, forest lands, and prime farmland soils, and align the Rio Bravo Pipeline Project with the updated design of the LNG Terminal to which it will interconnect.
