May 5 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firm Commonwealth LNG said

on Monday it signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement with a major

Asian energy company.

Under the 20-year agreement, Commonwealth said the buyer

will purchase 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefied

natural gas from Commonwealth's planned 9.5-MTPA facility in

Cameron, Louisiana.

Commonwealth did not name the buyer but said it was one of

the world's leading energy corporations with oil and gas

operations, and is one of the largest global suppliers of LNG.

Last week, Reuters reported that Malaysian state-owned oil

and gas firm Petroliam Nasional Berhad, known as Petronas, was

in talks with Commonwealth to buy LNG.

"This offtake agreement marks another important milestone

for Commonwealth as we work toward a final investment later this

year and first offtake planned for 2029," said Ben Dell,

managing partner of energy investment firm Kimmeridge and

chairman of Commonwealth.

Commonwealth said it expects the phase 1 development will

bring an investment of more than $11 billion to Louisiana and

generate an estimated $3.5 billion in annual export revenue.

The project is expected to employ about 2,000 workers at the

peak of construction and provide approximately 275 jobs when the

facility begins operations in late 2029, Commonwealth said.

Commonwealth is owned by Kimmeridge's Kimmeridge SoTex

Holdco unit.

The SPA with the buyer will become fully effective upon the

satisfaction of customary conditions, including an affirmative

final investment decision on the project, Commonwealth said.