WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the issuance of a long-term order authorizing the export of domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC (Calcasieu Pass) from an LNG export project site being built in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Under the order, Venture Global Calcasieu Pass will be able to export up to 1.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas as LNG to any countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States and that are not prohibited from trading with the United States under U.S. law or policy (known as non-FTA countries).

“Projects such as Calcasieu Pass’s LNG export project represent a tremendous opportunity for the United States,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. “To secure our place among the top LNG exporters in the world, brings great benefits to both the United States and our trading partners around the world.”

“By continuing to expand our LNG exports to nations around the world, we will further cement the United States’ role as an energy leader and achieve our goal of American energy independence,” said Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes..

Calcasieu Pass, having just received authorization to site and construct the Project from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 21, 2019, has stated that it plans to begin construction immediately. The Project will employ up to 1,500 construction workers. Including this authorization, DOE currently has a total of 24.74 Bcf/d of LNG exports to non-FTA countries authorized.

“The Venture Global Calcasieu Pass authorization from DOE comes less than two weeks after the Project received its final order from FERC, demonstrating that the Department of Energy acts expeditiously after a LNG project receives authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,” said Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy Steven Winberg.

The United States is now in its third year as a net exporter of natural gas, and is exporting U.S. LNG to 34 countries across five continents. Increased natural gas production in the United States is improving global energy security while stimulating economic development and job creation around the country. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects this increase in domestic natural gas production to continue, with the EIA’s Short Term Energy Outlook projecting an average dry natural gas production rate of 90.16 Bcf/d in 2019 and 92.05 Bcf/d in 2020, both new records.

The full final authorization for Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG, LLC can be found HERE.

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