**The United States Department of Energy’s LNG Export Pause Remains in Effect Despite New Authorizations**
The recent authorization by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to allow New Fortress Energy Inc. to export up to 1.4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually does not signal the end of the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits. According to a DOE spokesperson, this decision is specifically tailored to the already operational Altamira floating LNG export platform located off the coast of Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico.
**Key Points:**
1. **Authorization Details:**
– The DOE’s authorization allows New Fortress Energy’s Altamira platform to re-export approximately 0.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of US-sourced natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries for a five-year term.
– This increase in exports to non-FTA countries, including European allies, is estimated to be around 3%, with exports available during the upcoming winter season.
2. **Pause on Authorization:**
– The Biden administration initiated a pause on LNG export authorizations in January 2024 to enhance DOE’s review process, focusing on the climate and economic impacts of boosting exports.
– This pause did not affect the 8 operational LNG terminals or the 10 projects already holding DOE export authorizations and under construction. However, it did pose significant challenges to future US LNG export development.
3. **Legal and Regulatory Landscape:**
– Industry groups and attorneys general from 16 Republican states sued the White House over the pause. A federal court judge in Louisiana subsequently blocked the pause on LNG export permits, but the real-world impacts of this ruling remain unclear.
– New Fortress Energy has already commenced partial LNG shipments from the Altamira facility, with the first cargo