Gas exports from ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas project are expected four months ahead of schedule, according to the latest reports.

ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson told analysts in the US that first LNG would be ready for export as early as 1 July.

The Australian reported that the two-train, 6.9 million-tonne-per-year capacity LNG project was ahead of schedule despite cost blowouts.

“Despite the many challenges, the project is actually progressing a few months ahead of schedule, the first cargo delivery in the middle of this year,” Tillerson reportedly said.

“It looks like it’s probably going to start off early relative to what we had planned – just a superb job of execution by the project team there in an extraordinarily difficult environment.”

Tillerson reportedly said a third train was being considered.

A spokesperson from ExxonMobil was not immediately available when contacted by Upstream.