Last Friday, US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright awarded the first major LNG project to export permit to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries since President Trump repealed the Biden/Harris administration’s freeze on approvals.
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The recipient was Kimmeridge Texas Gas’ Commonwealth LNG, planned for Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Once completed, the facility will be able to export over 1.2 bill cu ft per day of LNG or 9.5 mill tonnes per annum.
“President Trump has outlined a bold agenda for unleashing American energy dominance, and restoring regular order on US LNG export permits is critical for meeting this commitment to the American people,” Secretary Wright said. “Today marks one of many steps that DoE will be taking to assure our future as a reliable energy supplier to the world and resume regular order to our regulatory responsibilities over natural gas exports.
“Exporting American LNG strengthens the US economy and supports American jobs while bolstering energy security around the world, and I am proud to be working with President Trump to get American energy exports back on track,” he said.
In the authorisation, the DoE said it found that Commonwealth LNG exports were likely to yield economic benefits to the US, diversify global LNG supplies, and improve energy security for US allies and trading partners during the export term period through 2050.
DoE is to issue a final order to Commonwealth LNG later this year.
According to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) most recent Short-Term Energy Outlook, current US LNG exports are expected to reach record highs this year, averaging over 15 bill cu ft per day.
These levels will be driven by record high US natural gas production of almost 105 bill cu ft per day.
Trump has also reopened over 600 mill acres of offshore federal waters for oil and gas development and formed an energy council, led by Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, which is set to drive policy aimed at maximising domestic energy output.
