HOUSTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Federal regulators on

Wednesday gave Cheniere Energy permission to introduce

natural gas into its Corpus Christi expansion project, a

document showed.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said

Cheniere could introduce natural gas to its fuel gas and hot oil

systems. The decision follows an October 17 order allowing

Cheniere to take liquefied gas from the Stage 3 plant to its

refrigerated liquid storage facilities.

The decision moves Cheniere Energy one step closer to

producing first LNG from its Stage 3 LNG plant.

Cheniere is the largest U.S. LNG exporter and the world's

second largest producer of the superchilled gas. The company has

played a key role in helping the U.S. become the world's largest

exporter of LNG.

Stage 3 is being constructed in Corpus Christi, Texas

and is comprised of seven gas-processing units with an expected

capacity of approximately 10 million metric tons per year of

LNG.

Cheniere has said it wants to produce first LNG

before the end of 2024

.