DOE approves plan to increase LNG exports from Freeport terminal in Texas

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved additional exports of domestically produced natural gas from the Freeport LNG Terminal located on Quintana Island, Texas.

“Increasing export capacity from the Freeport LNG project is critical to spreading freedom gas throughout the world by giving America’s allies a diverse and affordable source of clean energy. Further, more exports of U.S. LNG to the world means more U.S. jobs and more domestic economic growth and cleaner air here at home and around the globe,” U.S. Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes said the Clean Energy Ministerial in Vancouver, Canada. “There’s no doubt today’s announcement furthers this Administration’s commitment to promoting energy security and diversity worldwide.”

With the approval, Freeport will have authority to export up to 0.72 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as liquified natural gas (LNG) from a fourth liquefaction train to be built at the Freeport LNG Terminal.

“Approval of additional LNG exports from Freeport LNG furthers this Administration’s commitment to promoting American energy, American jobs, and the American economy. Further, increased supplies of U.S. natural gas on the world market are critical to advancing clean energy and the energy security of our allies around the globe. With the U.S. in another year of record-setting natural gas production, I am pleased that the Department of Energy is doing what it can to promote an efficient regulatory system that allows for molecules of U.S. freedom to be exported to the world,” Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg said.

The expansion of the Freeport LNG facility will support an estimated 3,000 engineering and construction jobs.

U.S. LNG export capacity, which is at 5 billion cubic feet per day, is expected to double by the end of 2020.