The U.S. Department of Energy has granted Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC additional time to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without free trade agreements from its facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The amendment order was signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
Once completed, the Lake Charles LNG project will have the capacity to export up to 2.33 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as LNG. The facility was initially designed as an import terminal but is now being developed for exports. Recently, the company entered into several long-term contracts with buyers such as Chevron and Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Secretary Wright stated, “On the heels of President Trump’s historic trade negotiations, demand for secure, reliable American LNG is surging. The Department of Energy is ensuring companies like Lake Charles LNG are prepared meet this global demand while advancing commonsense policies that support American jobs and lower energy costs here at home.”
Tala Goudarzi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, said, “Granting this commencement extension furthers the Trump Administration’s priority of unleashing American Energy, a radical shift from the last administration, whose actions undermined the progress of Lake Charles LNG for years.”
The United States remains the world’s largest producer and exporter of natural gas. Currently, eight large-scale LNG projects are operational in the country with more under construction or expanding. Under President Trump’s administration, approvals have been given for projects expected to export more than 13.8 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as LNG.
