Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

We have commodity derivatives consisting of natural gas supply contracts, including those under our IPM agreements, for the operation of the Liquefaction Project and expansion project, as well as the associated economic hedges (collectively, the “Liquefaction Supply Derivatives”).

We recognize our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities and measure those instruments at fair value. None of our derivative instruments are designated as cash flow, fair value or net investment hedging instruments, and changes in fair value are recorded within our Consolidated Statements of Operations to the extent not utilized for the commissioning process, in which case such changes are capitalized.

The following table shows the fair value of the derivative instruments that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis, distinguished by the fair value hierarchy levels prescribed by GAAP (in millions):


	Fair Value Measurements as of
	March 31, 2024								December 31, 2023
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total

Liquefaction Supply Derivatives asset (liability)	$	18	$	3	$	(1,635)	$	(1,614)	$	18	$	1	$	(1,676)	$	(1,657)

We value the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives using a market or option-based approach incorporating present value techniques, as needed, which incorporates observable commodity price curves, when available, and other relevant data.

We include a significant portion of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy as the fair value is developed through the use of internal models which incorporate significant unobservable inputs. 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 includes 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 certain contractual uncertainties, including those related to the availability of market information for delivery points, as well as the timing of satisfaction of certain events or development of infrastructure to support natural gas gathering and transport. 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.

The Level 3 fair value measurements of the natural gas positions within the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives could be materially impacted by a significant change in certain natural gas and international LNG prices. The following table includes quantitative information for the unobservable inputs for the Level 3 Liquefaction Supply Derivatives as of March 31, 2024:

Net Fair Value Liability

(in millions)

Valuation Approach

Significant Unobservable Input

Range of Significant Unobservable Inputs / Weighted Average (1)

Liquefaction Supply Derivatives

$(1,635)

Market approach incorporating present value techniques

Henry Hub basis spread

$(0.470) - $0.445 / $0.025

Option pricing model

International LNG pricing spread, relative to Henry Hub (2)

92% - 502% / 187%

(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

(2)Spread contemplates U.S. dollar-denominated pricing.

Increases or decreases in basis or pricing spreads, in isolation, would decrease or increase, respectively, the fair value of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives.

The following table shows the changes in the fair value of the Level 3 Liquefaction Supply Derivatives (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024		2023
Balance, beginning of period		$	(1,676)	$	(3,719)
Realized and change in fair value gains (losses) included in net income (1):
Included in cost of sales, existing deals (2)		(2)		1,049
Included in cost of sales, new deals (3)		9		3
Purchases and settlements:
Purchases (4)		—		—
Settlements (5)		34		165


Transfers out of level 3 (6)		—		—
Balance, end of period		$	(1,635)	$	(2,502)
Favorable changes in fair value relating to instruments still held at the end of the period		$	7	$	1,052

(1)Does not include the realized value associated with derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery, as settlement is equal to contractually fixed price from trade date multiplied by contractual volume. See settlements line item in this table.

(2)Impact to earnings on deals that existed at the beginning of the period and continue to exist at the end of the period.

(3)Impact to earnings on deals that were entered into during the reporting period and continue to exist at the end of the period.

(4)Includes any day one gain (loss) recognized during the reporting period on deals that were entered into during the reporting period which continue to exist at the end of the period.

(5)Roll-off in the current period of amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at the end of the previous period due to settlement of the underlying instruments in the current period.

(6)Transferred out of Level 3 as a result of observable market for the underlying natural gas purchase agreements.

All existing counterparty derivative contracts provide for the unconditional right of set-off in the event of default. We have elected to report derivative assets and liabilities arising from those derivative contracts with the same counterparty and the unconditional contractual right of set-off on a net basis. The use of derivative instruments exposes us to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that a counterparty will be unable to meet its commitments, in instances when the derivative instruments are in an asset position. Additionally, counterparties are at risk that we will be unable to meet our commitments in instances where the derivative instruments are in a liability position. We incorporate both our nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in fair value measurements depending on the position of the derivative. In adjusting the fair value of the derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, we have considered the impact of any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, set-off rights and guarantees.

Liquefaction Supply Derivatives

We hold Liquefaction Supply Derivatives which are primarily indexed to the natural gas market and international LNG indices. As of March 31, 2024, the remaining fixed terms of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives ranged up to approximately 15 years, some of which commence or accelerate upon the satisfaction of certain events or development of infrastructure to support natural gas gathering and transport.

The forward notional amount for the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives was approximately 6,199 TBtu and 6,245 TBtu as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, inclusive of amounts under contracts with unsatisfied contractual conditions, and exclusive of extension options that were uncertain to be taken as of March 31, 2024.

The following table shows the effect and location of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):


		Gain Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Operations Location (1)	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024		2023

Cost of sales		$	55	$	1,260

(1)Does not include the realized value associated with the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives that settle through physical delivery. Fair value fluctuations associated with commodity derivative activities are classified and presented consistently with the item economically hedged and the nature and intent of the derivative instrument.

Fair Value and Location of Derivative Assets and Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table shows the fair value and location of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):




	Fair Value Measurements as of (1)
Consolidated Balance Sheets Location	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Current derivative assets	$	37	$	30
Derivative assets	59		40
Total derivative assets	96		70

Current derivative liabilities	(144)		(196)
Derivative liabilities	(1,566)		(1,531)
Total derivative liabilities	(1,710)		(1,727)

Derivative liability, net	$	(1,614)	$	(1,657)

(1)Does not include collateral posted with counterparties by us of $1 million and zero as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which is included in other current assets, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and collateral posted by counterparties to us of zero and $4 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which is included in other current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Consolidated Balance Sheets Presentation

The following table shows the fair value of the derivatives outstanding on a gross and net basis (in millions) for the derivative instruments that are presented on a net basis on our Consolidated Balance Sheets:


	Liquefaction Supply Derivatives
	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
Gross assets	$	130	$	88
Offsetting amounts	(34)		(18)
Net assets	$	96	$	70

Gross liabilities	$	(1,713)	$	(1,746)
Offsetting amounts	3		19
Net liabilities	$	(1,710)	$	(1,727)