US Government approves second LNG export plans

The US Government has given its approval to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Texas. The Department of Energy said it has “conditionally authorised” Freeport LNG Expansion and […]

The US Government has given its approval to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Texas.

The Department of Energy said it has “conditionally authorised” Freeport LNG Expansion and FLNG Liquefaction to export gas to countries that don’t have a Free Trade Agreement with the US.

The facility (pictured) on Quintana Island, Texas would be able to ship 1.4 billion cubic feet of LNG per day.

In a statement, the Energy Department said it conducted an “extensive, careful review of the application” to export LNG.

It added: “Among other factors, the Department considered the economic, energy security, and environmental impacts – as well as public comments for and against the application and nearly 200,000 public comments related to the associated analysis of the cumulative impacts of increased LNG exports – and determined that exports from the terminal at a rate of up to 1.4 Bcf/d for a period of 20 years was not inconsistent with the public interest.”

This is believed to be the second approval for LNG export – the first of which was granted in May 2011 for Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana at a rate of up to 2.2 billion cubic feet per day.

Earlier this year, British firm BG Group signed a 20-year agreement to supply liquefied natural gas to India.

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