U.S. Energy Department Announces First Extensions of Natural Gas Export Terms Through 2050

The U.S. Energy Department on Oct. 21 granted seven applications extending the terms of long-term liquefied natural gas export authorizations to non-free trade countries through 2050, in accordance with a policy statement issued in July.

The policy, which marks a change from the prior practice of granting 20-year export terms, also allows existing applicants to amend their pending non-FTA applications to request a longer export term.

The U.S. is the world’s leading natural gas producer, and is currently in its fourth successive year as a net exporter. To date, U.S. LNG has been shipped to 38 destinations across five continents.

The projects that received term extensions are Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC, Venture Global Plaquemines LNG LLC, Rio Grande LNG LLC, Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG LP, Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III LLC, and Freeport entities including Freeport LNG Expansion L.P., and FLNG Liquefaction LLC.