DOE green lights Venture Global Plaquemines to export LNG

The U.S. Department of Energy approved Venture Global Plaquemines LNG’s request to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Plaquemines LNG Project on the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, La.

Plaquemines LNG will be allowed to export up to 3.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG by ocean-going vessel to any country with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) and is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. Of this amount, about 15 Bcf/d of export capacity is in various stages of operation and construction across eight large-scale export projects, including Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass project.

“The increase in LNG infrastructure projects in the U.S. has been astounding to watch,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said. “Projects like Venture Global’s Plaquemines create well-paid American jobs and have changed the game in sharing the benefits of U.S. LNG with our allies around the world. I am glad the Department is doing our part to empower the Plaquemines project and other energy infrastructure to progress quickly.”

The DOE has approved 38.06 Bcf/d of LNG exports to non-FTA countries. The United States is the top natural gas producer in the world and is currently producing nearly 92 Bcf/d of natural gas. LNG exports from the United States recently reached 5 Bcf/d.