The U.S. Department of Energy on May 29, 2025, approved final authorization for LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries from Port Arthur LNG Phase II, located in Jefferson County, Texas. The facility is owned by Sempra Energy. The authorization, signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, permits exports of up to 1.91 billion cubic feet per day once the terminal is completed. DOE described the action as the first final LNG export approval under the current administration and the fifth such authorization issued by Secretary Wright.
What it means
The approval reverses a pause on LNG export permitting put in place by the previous administration. DOE issued the authorization following its May 19 Response to Comments on the 2024 LNG Export Study. Port Arthur LNG Phase I, also a Sempra project at the same Jefferson County site, is currently under construction and is expected to begin exporting LNG in 2027. Phase II would add 1.91 Bcf/d of export capacity once built. Across all approvals issued under the current administration, DOE said the total volume of authorized exports now stands at 11.45 Bcf/d.
Sempra already operates the Cameron LNG export terminal in Louisiana, which has been exporting LNG since 2019, and is constructing the Energia Costa Azul terminal in Mexico, which is scheduled to begin commercial export operations of U.S.-sourced gas as LNG in 2026. “Port Arthur LNG Phase II marks a significant expansion of the first phase already under construction — turning more of the liquid gold beneath our feet into energy security for the American people,” Secretary Wright said. “U.S. LNG exports continue to gain momentum, and I am glad DOE is able to do its part to answer the call for more reliable and affordable energy, at home and abroad,” said Tala Goudarzi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
Key facts
- Facility: Port Arthur LNG Phase II, Jefferson County, Texas; owner: Sempra Energy
- Authorized export capacity: 1.91 Bcf/d to non-FTA countries
- Approval date: May 29, 2025; signed by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright
- Fifth LNG export authorization issued by Secretary Wright
- Total LNG export volume authorized under current administration: 11.45 Bcf/d
- Port Arthur LNG Phase I under construction; expected to begin exports in 2027
- Sempra’s Cameron LNG terminal (Louisiana) has been exporting LNG since 2019
- Sempra’s Energia Costa Azul terminal (Mexico) to begin commercial LNG exports of U.S.-sourced gas in 2026
- Authorization followed DOE’s Response to Comments on the 2024 LNG Export Study, issued May 19, 2025
Source: U.S. Department of Energy news release (energy.gov)