EQT Corp., the largest U.S. natural-gas producer, is in advanced discussions to purchase liquefied natural gas from NextDecade Corp.’s Rio Grande export terminal under construction in Brownsville, Texas, according to people familiar with the matter. Under the proposed terms, EQT would load cargoes directly at the facility once it begins operations. The Rio Grande project is designed to produce 17.6 million tonnes of LNG annually and could expand by a further 10.8 mtpa through two additional liquefaction trains. NextDecade aims to reach a final investment decision on the fourth and fifth trains in mid-September, a milestone that typically requires securing long-term offtake contracts to underpin project financing. Neither company has commented publicly on the negotiations, which come amid a surge in U.S. LNG project activity after President Donald Trump lifted a moratorium on new export permits earlier this year. A deal with EQT would add to NextDecade’s roster of prospective buyers and strengthen EQT’s strategy of diversifying its gas marketing beyond the domestic market. Separately on Wednesday, EQT signed a 20-year agreement to take 2 mtpa of LNG from Sempra’s planned Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project in Texas, underscoring the producer’s push to secure multiple export outlets for its Appalachian-sourced gas.