Corrects third paragraph to show expansion will add 24 trains to current 36, not bring total to 36

March 6 (Reuters) - Venture Global VG.N said on Thursday it would expand the total production capacity of its Plaquemines LNG plant in Louisiana to 45 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), up from the current 27 mtpa, with an additional investment of $18 billion.

The company, which became one of the most valuable U.S. LNG companies when it listed in January, had earlier in the day raised its estimates for the cost to build the initial phases of Plaquemines by around $2 billion.

The new third phase of expansion will consist of 24 trains, adding to the current 36 trains at the LNG plant.

The company expects a final investment decision on the expansion to come after the first production at its CP2 export plant in Louisiana.

(Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston, Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)

((Seher.Dareen@thomsonreuters.com; If in India call +91 74832 70128;))