The US Department of Energy (DOE) has granted an extension for the export authorisation of QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil’s $10bn Golden Pass LNG export project in Sabine Pass, Texas.
According to the DOE, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright’s decision aligns with ongoing efforts to bolster American energy capabilities and streamline the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export review process.
This development marks the third LNG-related approval from the DOE since President Donald Trump assumed office. Previous approvals included one for Commonwealth LNG on 14 February and another on 28 February that addressed barriers to using LNG as bunkering fuel.
Secretary Wright said: “Exporting US LNG supports American jobs, bolsters our national security and strengthens America’s position as a world energy leader. President Trump has pledged to restore energy dominance for the American people, and I am proud to help deliver on that agenda with today’s permit extension.”
Currently under construction, the Golden Pass LNG export project is set to begin export operations later this year.
The terminal will be the ninth large-scale export facility in the US, capable of exporting up to 2.57 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas as LNG.
Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tala Goudarzi said: “Golden Pass was the first project approved for exports to non-free trade agreement countries by DOE during the first Trump Administration, and it is gratifying that this project is so close to being able to deliver its first LNG.”
In early 2019, QatarEnergy, then known as Qatar Petroleum, along with ExxonMobil, finalised a decision to proceed with the Golden Pass LNG export terminal.
The facility is designed to have an annual output of around 18 million tonnes of LNG. It will utilise existing infrastructure while incorporating new systems for pre-treatment and liquefaction.
Situated approximately 16km south of Port Arthur in Jefferson County on the Sabine-Neches Waterway, Golden Pass will feature three new liquefaction trains. Each of the trains will have a nominal output of around 5.2 million metric tons per annum.
The site also includes five large storage tanks and two marine berths that can accommodate some of the world’s largest LNG carriers.
The current infrastructure at Golden Pass includes five storage tanks with a capacity of 155,000 cubic metres each. It will also have regasification systems capable of processing roughly two billion standard cubic feet per day of natural gas.
