The U.S. Department of Energy ended its pause on liquefied natural gas export approvals on January 20, 2025, acting on direction from President Donald J. Trump. Acting DOE Secretary Ingrid Kolb directed the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to resume consideration of all pending LNG export applications to countries without a free trade agreement with the United States. Reviews are to proceed under the Natural Gas Act and run simultaneously with the multi-agency NEPA review process.
What it means
The resumption of LNG application reviews restores the process by which DOE evaluates export authorizations to non-free-trade-agreement countries. DOE said the return to regular order follows President Trump’s direction to “unleash American Energy Dominance.” DOE published a multi-volume analysis of selected issues concerning LNG exports last month; the public comment period on that study has been extended from February 18, 2025 to March 20, 2025, and application reviews will proceed at the same time.
Key facts
- LNG export pause ended: January 20, 2025
- Acting DOE Secretary: Ingrid Kolb
- Office directed to act: Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
- Applications covered: pending LNG export applications to non-free-trade-agreement countries
- Governing statute: Natural Gas Act
- Original public comment deadline on LNG export study: February 18, 2025
- Extended public comment deadline: March 20, 2025
Source: U.S. Department of Energy news release (energy.gov)