Cheniere Energy Partners LP
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 20, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Feb 20, 2025
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following information describes our ability to generate and obtain adequate amounts of cash to meet our requirements in the short term and the long term. In the short term, we expect to meet our cash requirements using operating cash flows and available liquidity, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and available commitments under our credit facilities. Additionally, we expect to meet our long term cash requirements by using operating cash flows and other future potential sources of liquidity, which may include debt offerings by us or our subsidiaries and equity offerings by us.
The table below provides a summary of our available liquidity (in millions). Future material sources of liquidity are discussed below.
| December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $270 |
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents designated for the Liquefaction Project | 109 |
| Available commitments under our credit facilities (1): | |
| SPL Revolving Credit Facility | 776 |
| CQP Revolving Credit Facility | 1,000 |
| Total available commitments under our credit facilities | 1,776 |
| Total available liquidity | $2,155 |
(1)Available commitments represent total commitments less loans outstanding and letters of credit issued under each of our credit facilities as of December 31, 2024. See Note 10—Debt of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our credit facilities and other debt instruments.
Our liquidity position subsequent to December 31, 2024 will be driven by future sources of liquidity and future cash requirements, as further discussed under the caption Future Sources and Uses of Liquidity.
Although our sources and uses of cash are presented below from a consolidated standpoint, we and our subsidiary SPL operate with independent capital structures. Certain restrictions or requirements under debt instruments executed by SPL limit its ability to distribute cash, including the following:
SPL is required to deposit all cash received into restricted cash and cash equivalents accounts under certain of their debt agreements. The usage or withdrawal of such cash is restricted to the payment of liabilities related to the Liquefaction Project and other restricted payments. In addition, SPL’s operating costs are managed by subsidiaries of Cheniere under affiliate agreements, which may require SPL to advance cash to the respective affiliates; and
SPL is restricted by affirmative and negative covenants included in certain of its debt agreements in its ability to make certain payments, including distributions, unless specific requirements are satisfied.
Despite the restrictions noted above, we believe that sufficient flexibility exists to enable each independent capital structure to meet its currently anticipated cash requirements. The sources of liquidity at SPL primarily fund the cash requirements of SPL, and any remaining liquidity not subject to restriction, as supplemented by liquidity provided by SPLNG, is available to enable CQP to meet its cash requirements.
Supplemental Guarantor Information
Certain debt obligations of CQP (the“Guaranteed Obligations”), consisting of the $1.5 billion of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029, $1.5 billion of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2031, $1.2 billion of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2032, $1.4 billion of 5.950% Senior Notes due 2033 and the 2034 CQP Senior Notes (collectively, the“CQP Senior Notes”) are jointly and severally guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of CQP (each a“Guarantor” and collectively, the “CQP Guarantors”), as prescribed within the respective debt agreements governing such Guaranteed Obligation.
The CQP Guarantors’ guarantees of such Guaranteed Obligations are full and unconditional, subject to certain release provisions including, as applicable, (1) the sale, disposition or transfer (by merger, consolidation or otherwise) of the capital stock or all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor, (2) the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor, (3) following the release of a Guarantor from another guarantee that resulted in the creation of its guarantee of the Guaranteed Obligation and (4) the legal defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of obligations under the indenture governing the CQP Senior Notes. In the event of a default in payment of the principal or interest by us, whether at maturity of the respective debt obligation or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted against the CQP Guarantors to enforce the guarantee.
The Guaranteed Obligations contain affirmative and negative covenants that are customary for the respective debt instrument, including, with limited exceptions, restrictions on CQP’s and the CQP Guarantors’ ability to incur additional indebtedness and/or liens, enter into hedging arrangements and/or engage in transactions with affiliates. The Guaranteed
Obligations also include events of default that are customary for the respective debt instrument, which are subject to customary grace periods and materiality standards.
The rights of holders of the Guaranteed Obligations against the CQP Guarantors may be limited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or state fraudulent transfer or conveyance law. Each guarantee contains a provision intended to limit the Guarantor’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its guarantee to be a fraudulent conveyance or transfer under U.S. federal or state law. However, there can be no assurance as to what standard a court will apply in making a determination of the maximum liability of the CQP Guarantors. Moreover, this provision may not be effective to protect the guarantee from being voided under fraudulent conveyance laws. There is a possibility that the entire guarantee may be set aside, in which case the entire liability may be extinguished.
The following tables include summarized financial information of CQP (the“Parent Issuer”), and the CQP Guarantors (together with the Parent Issuer, the“Obligor Group”) on a combined basis. Investments in and equity in the earnings of SPL and, subject to certain conditions governing its guarantee, Sabine Pass LP (collectively with SPL, the“Non-Guarantors”), which are not currently members of the Obligor Group, have been excluded. Intercompany balances and transactions between entities in the Obligor Group have been eliminated. Although the creditors of the Obligor Group have no claim against the Non-Guarantors, the Obligor Group may gain access to the assets of the Non-Guarantors upon bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Non-Guarantors due to its investment in these entities. However, such claims to the assets of the Non-Guarantors would be subordinated to any claims by the Non-Guarantors’ creditors, including trade creditors.
| Summarized Balance Sheets (in millions) | December 31, | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Current assets, net | $312 | $614 |
| Current assets—affiliate | 103 | 86 |
| Current assets with Non-Guarantors | 53 | 56 |
| Total current assets | 468 | 756 |
| Non-current assets, net | 3,034 | 3,025 |
| Total assets | $3,502 | $3,781 |
| LIABILITIES | ||
| Current liabilities | ||
| Current liabilities | $148 | $155 |
| Current liabilities—affiliate | 57 | 46 |
| Current liabilities due to Non-Guarantors | 120 | 100 |
| Total current liabilities | 325 | 301 |
| Long-term debt, net of premium, discount and debt issuance costs | 6,731 | 5,542 |
| Other non-current liabilities | 141 | 81 |
| Non-current liabilities—affiliate | 18 | 18 |
| Total liabilities | $7,215 | $5,942 |
| Summarized Statement of Operations (in millions) | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Revenues | $200 |
| Revenues from Non-Guarantors | 552 |
| Total revenues | 752 |
| Operating costs and expenses | 263 |
| Operating costs and expenses—affiliate | 210 |
| Total operating costs and expenses | 473 |
| Income from operations | 279 |
| Net income | (30) |
Future Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The following discussion of our future sources and uses of liquidity includes estimates that reflect management’s assumptions and currently known market conditions and other factors as of December 31, 2024. Estimates are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially as a result of a variety of factors described in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Future Sources of Liquidity under Executed Contracts
We are contractually entitled to significant future consideration contracted under our long-term SPAs that has not yet been recognized as revenue. The timing of revenue recognition under GAAP may not align with cash receipts, although we do not consider the timing difference to be significant to our future liquidity. In addition, a significant portion of this future consideration is subject to variability as discussed more specifically below. We have estimated revenues under agreements with terms dependent on project milestone dates based on the estimated dates as of December 31, 2024. The following table summarizes our estimate of revenues to be received from executed long-term SPAs as of December 31, 2024 (in billions):
| Estimated Revenues Under Executed SPAs by Period (1) (2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 - 2029 | Thereafter | Total | |||
| LNG revenues (fixed fees) | $3.8 | $13.8 | $27.5 | $45.1 | ||
| LNG revenues (variable fees) (3) | 6.0 | 22.1 | 49.0 | 77.1 | ||
| Total | $9.8 | $35.9 | $76.5 | $122.2 | ||
(1)LNG revenues exclude revenues from contracts with original expected durations of one year or less.
(2)LNG revenues (including $0.7 billion and $1.4 billion of fixed fees and variable fees, respectively, from affiliates) exclude the SPA with Cheniere Marketing associated with our IPM agreement in effect, for which pricing is linked to international natural gas prices.
(3)LNG revenues (variable fees) reflect the assumption of delivery of all contractual volumes, irrespective of any contractual right of non-delivery. LNG revenues (variable fees) are based on estimated forward prices and basis spreads as of December 31, 2024.
Under our long-term SPAs, we have contracted approximately 80% of the total anticipated production though the mid-2030s from our liquefaction capacity that is currently in construction or operation. Under our SPAs, customers purchase LNG on an FOB basis (delivered to the customer at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal) generally for a price consisting of a fixed fee per MMBtu of LNG (a portion of which is subject to annual adjustment for inflation) plus a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG generally equal to 115% of Henry Hub. The variable fees under our SPAs were generally sized with the intention to cover the supply and transportation of natural gas and the liquefaction fuel consumed to produce the LNG to be sold under each such SPA, thus limiting our exposure to future U.S. natural gas price increases. Certain customers may elect to cancel or suspend deliveries of LNG cargoes, with advance notice as governed by each respective SPA, in which case the customers would still be required to pay the fixed fee with respect to the contracted volumes that are not delivered as a result of such cancellation or suspension.
The table above excludes an SPA with Cheniere Marketing under which we sell LNG produced from natural gas procured under our IPM agreement in effect at pricing linked to global gas market prices. The IPM agreement in effect, under which we pay for natural gas feedstock based on global gas prices less liquefaction fees and certain costs incurred by us, generates a take-or-pay style fixed liquefaction fee when viewed in conjunction with the associated SPA. Over a remaining fixed term of 13 years, we expect to generate liquidity from the approximately 575 TBtu of LNG yet to be delivered under this SPA as of December 31, 2024. We do not have an SPA as of December 31, 2024 for the approximately 665 TBtu associated with an IPM agreement that is subject to unsatisfied contractual conditions precedent.
Additional Future Sources of Liquidity
Available Commitments under Credit Facilities
As of December 31, 2024, we had $1.8 billion in available commitments under our credit facilities, as detailed earlier in the table summarizing our available liquidity, subject to compliance with the applicable covenants, to potentially meet liquidity needs. Our credit facilities mature in 2028.
Disciplined Accretive Growth
Our significant land position at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal provides potential development and investment opportunities for further liquefaction capacity expansion at a strategically advantaged location with proximity to pipeline infrastructure and resources. In February 2024, certain of our subsidiaries submitted an application to the FERC under the NGA for authorization to site, construct and operate the SPL Expansion Project, as well as an application to the DOE requesting authorization to export LNG to FTA countries and non-FTA countries, both of which applications exclude debottlenecking. In October 2024, the authorization from the DOE to export LNG to FTA countries was received. The development of this site or other projects, including infrastructure projects in support of natural gas supply and LNG demand, will require, among other things, acceptable commercial and financing arrangements before we make a positive FID.
Future Cash Requirements for Operations and Capital Expenditures under Executed Contracts
We are committed to make future cash payments for operations and capital expenditures pursuant to certain of our contracts. The following table summarizes our estimate of material cash requirements for operations related to our core operations under executed contracts as of December 31, 2024 (in billions):
| Estimated Payments Due Under Executed Contracts by Period (1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 - 2029 | Thereafter | Total | |||
| Purchase obligations (2): | ||||||
| Natural gas supply agreements excluding our IPM agreement (3) (4) | $4.2 | $8.5 | $1.5 | $14.2 | ||
| Natural gas transportation and storage service agreements (5) | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 3.1 | ||
| Other purchase obligations (6) | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.5 | ||
| Leases (7) | — | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | ||
| Total | $4.6 | $9.9 | $4.5 | $19.0 | ||
(1)Agreements in force as of December 31, 2024 that have terms dependent on project milestone dates are based on the estimated dates as of December 31, 2024.
(2)Purchase obligations consist of agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding that specify fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased. We include contracts for which we have an early termination option if the option is not currently expected to be exercised. We include contracts with unsatisfied contractual conditions if the conditions are currently expected to be met.
(3)Natural gas supply agreements exclude the IPM agreement, which, as described in Future Sources of Liquidity under Executed Contracts, is structured to generate a fixed margin when viewed in conjunction with the associated SPA with Cheniere Marketing.
(4)Pricing of natural gas supply agreements is based on estimated forward prices and basis spreads as of December 31, 2024.
(5)Natural gas transportation and storage services agreements include $0.2 billion in obligations to related parties.
(6)Other purchase obligations include $1.2 billion of purchase obligations to affiliates under service agreements.
(7)Leases include payments under operating leases and finance leases. Payments during future renewal option periods that are exercisable at our sole discretion are included only to the extent that the option is believed to be reasonably certain to be exercised.
Natural Gas Supply, Transportation and Storage Service Agreements
Excluding our IPM agreement, we have secured approximately 3,900 TBtu of natural gas feedstock for the Liquefaction Project through long-term natural gas supply agreements with remaining fixed terms of up to 7 years. As of December 31, 2024, we have secured approximately 73% of the natural gas supply required to support the total forecasted production capacity of the Liquefaction Project during 2025, excluding the 3% of which has been secured under our IPM agreement in effect. Natural gas supply secured decreases as a percentage of forecasted production capacity beyond 2025. As further described in the Future Sources of Liquidity under Executed Contracts section, the pricing structure of our SPAs often incorporates a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG generally equal to 115% of Henry Hub, which is paid upon delivery, thus limiting our net exposure to future increases in natural gas prices.
To ensure that we are able to transport natural gas feedstock to the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal, we have transportation precedent and other agreements to secure firm pipeline transportation capacity from CTPL and third party interstate and intrastate pipeline companies. We have also entered into firm storage services agreements with third parties to assist in managing variability in natural gas needs for the Liquefaction Project.
Capital Expenditures
Although we do not currently have any material capital expenditures under executed contracts, we expect to incur ongoing capital expenditures to maintain our facilities and other assets, as well as to optimize our existing assets and purchase new assets that are intended to grow our productive capacity. See Disciplined Accretive Growth section for further discussion.
Leases
Our obligations under our lease arrangements primarily consist of leases for the use of tug vessels and land sites.
Additional Future Cash Requirements for Operations and Capital Expenditures
Operational Services
We rely on our general partner to manage all aspects of the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal and to conduct our business. Because our general partner has no employees, it relies on subsidiaries of Cheniere to provide the personnel necessary to allow it to meet its management obligations to us and our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2024, Cheniere and its subsidiaries had 1,714 full-time employees, including 501 employees who directly supported the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal operations.
Disciplined Accretive Growth
The FID of any expansion projects will result in additional cash requirements to fund the construction and operations of such projects in excess of our current contractual obligations under executed contracts discussed above, although expansion may be designed to leverage shared infrastructure to reduce the incremental costs of any potential expansion.
Future Cash Requirements for Financing under Executed Contracts
We are committed to make future cash payments for financing pursuant to certain of our contracts. The following table summarizes our estimate of material cash requirements for financing under executed contracts as of December 31, 2024 (in billions):
| Estimated Payments Due Under Executed Contracts by Period (1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 - 2029 | Thereafter | Total | |||
| Debt | $0.4 | $6.2 | $8.6 | $15.2 | ||
| Interest payments | 0.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 4.0 | ||
| Total | $1.1 | $8.4 | $9.7 | $19.2 | ||
(1)Debt and interest payments are based on the total debt balance, scheduled contractual maturities and fixed or estimated forward interest rates in effect at December 31, 2024. Debt and interest payments do not contemplate repurchases, repayments and retirements that we may make prior to contractual maturity.
Debt
As of December 31, 2024, our debt complex was comprised of senior notes with an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $15.2 billion and credit facilities with no outstanding loan balances. As of December 31, 2024, we and SPL were in compliance with all covenants related to their respective debt agreements. Further discussion of our debt obligations, including the restrictions imposed by these arrangements, can be found in Note 10—Debt of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Interest
As of December 31, 2024, our senior notes had a weighted average contractual interest rate of 4.79%. Borrowings under our credit facilities are indexed to SOFR. Undrawn commitments under our credit facilities are subject to commitment fees ranging from 0.075% to 0.30%, subject to change based on the applicable entity’s credit rating. Issued letters of credit under our credit facilities are subject to letter of credit fees ranging from 1.0% to 2.0%, subject to change based on the applicable entity’s credit rating. We had $224 million aggregate amount of issued letters of credit under our credit facilities as of December 31, 2024.
Additional Future Cash Requirements for Financing
CQP Distribution
Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash, which, as defined in our partnership agreement, consists of cash on hand at the end of a quarter less the amount of any reserves established by our general partner. All distributions paid to date have been made from accumulated operating surplus.
Capital Allocation Plan
In June 2024, the board of directors of Cheniere approved an updated comprehensive long-term capital allocation plan, which may involve the repayment, redemption or repurchase, on the open market or otherwise, of debt, including senior notes of CQP and SPL.
Sources and Uses of Cash
The following table summarizes the sources and uses of our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents (in millions). The table presents capital expenditures on a cash basis; therefore, these amounts differ from the amounts of capital expenditures, including accruals, which are referred to elsewhere in this report. Additional discussion of these items follows the table.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $2,968 | $3,109 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (162) | (227) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (3,058) | (3,247) |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $(252) | $(365) |
Operating Cash Flows
The $143 million decrease between the periods was primarily related to cash flows attributed to working capital, mainly due to differences in timing of payments to suppliers and cash collections from the sale of LNG cargoes.
Investing Cash Flows
Cash outflows for property, plant and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were primarily related to optimization and other site improvement projects.
Financing Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our financing activities (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Proceeds from issuances of debt | $1,228 | $1,397 |
| Redemptions, repayments and repurchases of debt | (2,030) | (1,700) |
| Distributions | (2,235) | (2,907) |
| Other | (21) | (37) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | $(3,058) | $(3,247) |
Debt Activity
The following table shows our debt activity (in millions):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Proceeds from issuances of debt | ||
| CQP: | ||
| 5.750% Senior Notes due 2034 | $1,198 | $— |
| 5.950% Senior Notes due 2033 | — | 1,397 |
| SPL: | ||
| SPL Revolving Credit Facility | 30 | — |
| Total proceeds from issuances of debt | $1,228 | $1,397 |
| Redemptions, repayments and repurchases of debt | ||
| SPL: | ||
| 5.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 | $(300) | $(1,700) |
| 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 | (1,700) | — |
| SPL Revolving Credit Facility | (30) | — |
| Total redemptions, repayments and repurchases of debt | $(2,030) | $(1,700) |
Cash Distributions to Unitholders
Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash (as defined in our partnership agreement). Our available cash is our cash on hand at the end of a quarter less the amount of any reserves established by our general partner. All distributions paid to date have been made from accumulated operating surplus.
The following provides a summary of distributions paid by us during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
| Total Distribution (in millions) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date Paid | Period Covered by Distribution | Distribution Per Common Unit | Common Units | General Partner Units | Incentive Distribution Rights |
| November 14, 2024 | July 1 - September 30, 2024 | $0.810 | $392 | $10 | $99 |
| August 14, 2024 | April 1 - June 30, 2024 | 0.810 | 392 | 10 | 99 |
| May 15, 2024 | January 1 - March 31, 2024 | 0.810 | 392 | 10 | 99 |
| February 14, 2024 | October 1 - December 31, 2023 | 1.035 | 501 | 14 | 204 |
| November 14, 2023 | July 1 - September 30, 2023 | $1.030 | $499 | $14 | $201 |
| August 14, 2023 | April 1 - June 30, 2023 | 1.030 | 499 | 14 | 201 |
| May 15, 2023 | January 1 - March 31, 2023 | 1.030 | 499 | 14 | 201 |
| February 14, 2023 | October 1 - December 31, 2022 | 1.070 | 518 | 15 | 220 |
In addition, Tug Services distributed $13 million during both the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, to Cheniere Terminals in accordance with their terminal marine service agreement, which is recognized as part of the distributions to the holder of our general partner interest. Refer to Note 13—Related Party Transactions of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of this agreement.
On January 29, 2025, with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024, we declared a cash distribution of $0.820 per common unit to unitholders of record as of February 10, 2025, and the related general partner distribution, that was paid on February 14, 2025. These distributions consist of a base amount of $0.775 per unit and a variable amount of $0.045 per unit.
Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions regularly, including those related to the valuation of derivative instruments. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates. Management considers the following to be its most critical accounting estimates that involve significant judgment.
Fair Value of Level 3 Liquefaction Supply Derivatives
All of our derivative instruments are recorded at fair value, as described in Note 3—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We record changes in the fair value of our derivative positions through earnings based on the value for which the derivative instrument could be exchanged between willing parties. Valuation of our liquefaction supply derivative contracts is often developed through the use of internal models which includes significant unobservable inputs representing Level 3 fair value measurements as further described in Note 3—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In instances where observable data is unavailable, consideration is given to the assumptions that market participants may use in valuing the asset or liability. To the extent valued using an option pricing model, we consider the future prices of energy units for unobservable periods to be a significant unobservable input to estimated net fair value. In estimating the future prices of energy units, we make judgments about market risk related to liquidity of commodity indices and volatility utilizing available market data. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates and judgments, and actual results may differ from these estimates and judgments. We derive our volatility assumptions based on observed historical settled global LNG market pricing or accepted proxies for global LNG market pricing as well as settled domestic natural gas pricing. Such volatility assumptions also contemplate, as of the balance sheet date, observable forward curve data of such indices, as well as evolving available industry data and independent studies. In developing our volatility assumptions, we acknowledge that the global LNG industry is inherently influenced by events such as unplanned supply constraints, geopolitical incidents, unusual climate events including drought and uncommonly mild, by historical standards, winters and summers, and real or threatened disruptive operational impacts to global energy infrastructure. Our current estimate of volatility does not exclude the impact of otherwise rare events unless we believe market participants would exclude such events on account of their assertion that those events were specific to our company and deemed within our control.
Our fair value estimates incorporate market participant-based assumptions pertaining to applicable contractual uncertainties, including those related to the availability of market information for delivery points, as well as the timing of both satisfaction of contractual events or states of affairs and delivery commencement. We may recognize changes in fair value through earnings that could be significant to our results of operations if and when such uncertainties are resolved.
Additionally, the valuation of certain liquefaction supply derivatives requires significant judgment in estimating underlying forward commodity curves due to periods of unobservability or limited liquidity. Such valuations are more susceptible to variability particularly when markets are volatile. Provided below are the changes in fair value from valuation of instruments valued through the use of internal models which incorporate significant unobservable inputs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in millions), which entirely consisted of liquefaction supply derivatives. The changes in fair value shown are limited to instruments still held at the end of each respective period.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Favorable changes in fair value relating to instruments still held at the end of the period | $184 | $1,318 |
The changes in fair value on instruments held at the end of both years are primarily attributed to a significant variance in the estimated and observable forward international LNG commodity prices on our IPM agreement in effect during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
The estimated fair value of level 3 derivatives recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 amounted to a liability of $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.
The ultimate fair value of our derivative instruments is uncertain, and we believe that it is reasonably possible that a material change in the estimated fair value could occur in the near future, particularly as it relates to commodity prices impacting the valuation of our liquefaction supply derivatives, given the level of volatility to which such prices are subjected. See Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for further analysis of the sensitivity of the fair value of our derivatives to hypothetical changes in underlying prices.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.