The U.S. Department of Energy has granted Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC more time to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without free trade agreements with the United States. The extension was formalized in an amendment order signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
The Lake Charles LNG project, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is designed to export up to 2.33 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas once construction is complete. The facility was initially built as an import terminal but has since been converted for exports. Recently, the company secured long-term contracts with Chevron and Kyushu Electric Power Company.
“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.”
Tala Goudarzi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, added: “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.”
Currently, eight large-scale LNG projects operate in the United States. Several others are either expanding or under construction. The U.S. remains the largest producer and exporter of natural gas globally. Under President Trump’s administration, approvals have been given for projects that will allow exports exceeding 13.8 billion cubic feet per day—more than what the world’s second-largest exporter currently ships.
