The U.S. Department of Energy has granted Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC more time to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without free trade agreements from its project in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The order was signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
Once construction is complete, the Lake Charles LNG facility will have the capacity to export up to 2.33 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as LNG.
“On the heels of President Trump’s historic trade negotiations, demand for secure, reliable American LNG is surging,” said Secretary Wright. “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.”
“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,” said Tala Goudarzi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
Originally designed as an import terminal, Lake Charles LNG is now being developed for exports. The company has recently entered into long-term contracts with Chevron and Kyushu Electric Power Company for LNG supply.
The United States currently leads in both production and exportation of natural gas globally. There are eight major U.S. LNG projects operating with more under development or expansion. The Department has approved applications under President Trump allowing over 13.8 billion cubic feet per day in future exports—an amount exceeding that exported by the world’s second-largest LNG exporter.
