May 28 (Reuters) - Cheniere Energy Partners said on Thursday it signed a contract with Bechtel Corp for engineering, procurement and construction of the first phase of its Sabine Pass LNG expansion project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Here are more details:

-- The Sabine Pass LNG terminal has natural gas liquefaction facilities with a total production capacity of over 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG in operation.

-- The expansion will add 6 million mtpa of additional LNG capacity to the Sabine Pass facility.

-- The Bechtel contract is for phase 1 of the expansion project.

-- Cheniere plans adding 12 mtpa in phase two of the project, potentially increasing the export capacity of Sabine Pass to 48 mtpa.

-- The contract is valued at $4.69 billion, according to a filing on Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

-- The terminal allows the U.S. to export its abundant shale gas, sourced from the Permian and Haynesville basins, bolstering the U.S. trade balance and providing geopolitical allies with an alternative to Russian or Middle Eastern gas.

-- The first phase of the project includes Train 7, a boil-off gas re-liquefaction unit and related infrastructure tied to the existing Sabine Pass LNG terminal. Phase 1's expected total production capacity is over 6 mtpa.

-- The company expects to reach a final investment decision on the first phase by early 2027.

-- The planned expansion is part of the next phase of U.S. energy infrastructure growth and the continuation of a partnership between Bechtel and Cheniere that has helped reshape global energy markets, said Paul Marsden, president of Bechtel's energy global business unit.

-- Cheniere also said it had issued Bechtel a limited notice to proceed, allowing early engineering and procurement work to begin.

-- Cheniere has to issue the full notice to proceed to Bechtel on or before May 21, 2028, or either party may terminate the contract, and Bechtel would be paid termination costs, according to the SEC filing.

-- LNG will play an essential role in the energy mix for decades to come, Marsden said.