DOE said on Tuesday it has granted Golden Pass LNG’s June 26 request to export LNG previously imported into the US by vessel from foreign sources in a volume equivalent to 50 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a cumulative basis for a two-year period commencing on October 1, 2025.
The JV sought authorization to export previously imported LNG from the GPLNG terminal, in Sabine Pass, Texas, to any country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and with which trade is not prohibited by US law or policy.
Moreover, the LNG supplies that are proposed to be exported would be derived from GPLNG’s LNG importing activities and will be residing in LNG storage tanks at the terminal.
The LNG supplies will either be re-exported or regasified to be used as fuel gas at the facility.
GPLNG further plans to use the imported LNG as part of the start-up of its export facility.
And, contingent on US and global market price signals, the LNG supplies could be regasified to be consumed in the domestic natural gas market, it said.
“Upon review of the record, DOE finds that a grant of the uncontested non-FTA portion of GPLNG’s application is not inconsistent with the public interest,” DOE said in its order.
“In particular, the record shows that there is a sufficient supply of natural gas to satisfy domestic demand from multiple other sources at competitive prices without drawing on GPLNG’s proposed exports of previously imported LNG during the two-year authorization period,” it said.
“Further, the proposed exports of previously imported LNG qualify for a categorical exclusion under NEPA, such that no EA or EIS will be required,” DOE added.
Commissioning
Golden Pass continues to progress with commissioning activities as it looks to start producing LNG at the first train by the end of this year.
The JV recently received approval from the US FERC to place into service its MP 33 compressor station.
State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the Golden Pass LNG project with a capacity of more than 18 mtpa and will offtake 70 percent of the capacity, while US energy firm ExxonMobil has a 30 percent share.
Japan’s Chiyoda and US-based McDermott signed a binding term sheet with GPLNG in June to complete the construction of the second and third liquefaction units at the giant LNG export plant in Texas.
Chiyoda said that the JV partners and GPLNG will “continue engagements to finalize amendment to the contract and will disclose promptly when we conclude such agreement.”
A joint venture of Chiyoda, McDermott’s CB&I, and Zachry won the EPC contract to build the three Golden Pass trains worth about $10 billion next to the existing LNG import terminal in the vicinity of Sabine Pass, Texas.
However, Zachry Holdings said in May last year that it had filed for bankruptcy, initiating a structured exit from the Golden Pass LNG export project due to “financial challenges” related to the facility’s construction.
In November 2024, Chiyoda and US-based CB&I reached a deal with Golden Pass LNG to complete the construction of the first liquefaction at the LNG export plant.
After that, Houston-based McDermott completed the sale of its CB&I storage business to a consortium of financial investors led by New York-based Mason Capital Management.
