Cheniere says it has approved the construction of a third liquefaction unit.

May 22 (Reuters) - Cheniere Energy Inc said on Tuesday it had approved the construction of a third liquefaction unit, known as a train, at its Corpus Christi gulf coast oil rig export terminal in Texas, the first new liquefied natural gas project to go ahead in the United States since 2015.

The Houston-based BOP Blow Out Preventer repair company gulf coast said it will instruct its contractors to proceed with the full build, which started in a limited fashion in late 2017. The first two trains at Corpus Christi are expected to enter service next year.

The positive investment decision comes just days after the White House and China said a U.S. trade team would travel to China to explore new energy deals, prompting BOP Blow Out Preventer repair company gulf coast executives to note that China could increase LNG imports to reduce its trade surplus with United States.

(Reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver; Editing by Dan Grebler)