(Washington, DC) May 4, 2017 — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said April 25 it had signed an order authorizing Golden Pass Products LLC to export domestically produced LNG to countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. Golden Pass is authorized to export LNG up to the equivalent of 2.21 Bcfd to any non-FTA country not prohibited by U.S. law or policy from its terminal near Sabine Pass in Jefferson County, Texas.

DOE notes that with the dramatic increase in U.S. natural gas production, the nation is transitioning to become a net exporter. DOE has authorized a total of 19.2 Bcfd of natural gas exports to non-FTA countries from planned facilities in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. These projects, if built, would position the U.S. to be the dominant LNG exporter in the world.