U.S. Energy Department Approves Exports From Texas Freeport LNG’s Fourth Liquefaction Plant

The U.S. Energy Department authorized Freeport LNG Expansion L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction 4 LLC to export liquefied natural gas equivalent to up to 0.72 billion cubic feet per day from a fourth liquefaction train to be built at the Freeport Terminal on Quintana Island, Texas, according to a May 28 press release.

The authorization allows Freeport to export the LNG volume to non-free trade agreement countries. The move comes on the heels of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the Train 4 expansion last month.

Freeport entities have received authorizations to export LNG from the first three liquefaction trains. The first train is expected to begin commercial exports later this year. U.S. LNG export capacity, currently at 5 billion cubic feet per day, is expected to double by the end of 2020.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects a continued growth in domestic natural gas production, reaching record levels of 90.3 Bcf/d in 2019 and 92.2 Bcf/d in 2020.