The US Department of Energy (DoE) has issued its final authorisation for Commonwealth LNG to export up to 1.21 billion cubic feet per day (/d) of natural gas in liquefied form to countries without free trade agreements.
This approval pertains to the proposed facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
The decision follows a conditional authorisation granted to Commonwealth LNG in February this year and aligns with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval for the project’s siting, construction and operation, which was issued in June.
The authorisation also takes into account the DoE’s response to feedback on the 2024 LNG [liquefied natural gas] Export Study, which emphasises the role of US LNG exports in enhancing energy security for allies and creating job opportunities domestically.
The Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tala Goudarzi said: “We are glad to do our part in Commonwealth’s recent progress toward its final investment decision and look forward to its contribution to our nation’s success.”
Commonwealth LNG, owned by Kimmeridge, has established long-term LNG offtake agreements with Petronas of Malaysia, Glencore and JERA from Japan.
The company has also secured a contract with Technip Energies for engineering, procurement and construction services to facilitate project development.
The US currently has eight operational large-scale LNG export facilities, with additional projects either under construction or in the process of expansion.
Under the previous administration, the DoE authorised LNG export projects amounting to more than /d.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said: “Finalising this authorisation moves us closer to delivering more American LNG to the world, advancing President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.
“As DoE found earlier this year and affirms again in this order, expanding America’s LNG export capacity bolsters our economy, strengthens the energy security of our allies and trading partners, and ensures the US can continue to lead the world in the production of affordable, reliable and secure energy.”
