In May 2025, Louisiana LNG requested an extension of the deadline set forth in its
existing long-term authorization to export LNG, to extend the deadline to commence exports from May 2, 2026, to December 31, 2029.
Louisiana LNG is authorized to export LNG in a volume equivalent to 1,415.3 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas (3.88 Bcf per day) from the plant currently under construction in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
The company is authorized to export LNG to any country with which the US has not entered into a free trade agreement for a term extending through December 31, 2050.
In June this year, Woodside secured an additional eight-month extension from the US FERC to complete and put into service its Louisiana LNG export facility.
FERC granted an extension of time until and including December 31, 2029.
In its newest request with the DOE, Louisiana LNG asks DOE to amend its export commencement deadline to align it with the December 31, 2029 construction and in-service deadline then-pending and now approved in the 2025 FERC extension order.
“Because we find that Louisiana LNG has demonstrated good cause for the requested extension of time to commence non-FTA exports from the Woodside Louisiana LNG project, we grant the extension to December 31, 2029,” DOE said in its order on Tuesday.
Additionally, DOE “finds it necessary and appropriate” to amend the authorization to provide three additional years for Louisiana LNG to export the approved non-FTA volume of LNG beyond the export term for the authorization ending on December 31, 2050 (make-up period).
“During this make-up period, which will extend through December 31, 2053, Louisiana LNG will be permitted to export any approved volume of LNG that it is unable to export during the original export term (the make-up volume),” DOE said.
Partners
Woodside is currently looking to sell down further equity in its three-train Louisiana LNG export plant.
At the same time, the firm also wants to have a partner or partners lined up for trains four and five before it pulls the trigger on a final investment decision, CEO Meg O’Neill recently said.
Since the final investment decision (FID) on the project in April 2025, construction has continued to progress on the 16 mtpa project, reaching 19 percent completion by the end of the third quarter.
Including trains 4 and 5, the project has a permitted capacity of 27.6 mtpa.
In October, US natural gas pipeline operator Williams purchased stakes in Woodside’s Louisiana LNG project and the Driftwood pipeline.
Williams will hold 10 percent equity in Louisiana HoldCo, with the remaining 90 percent of HoldCo currently owned by Woodside.
HoldCo owns 60 percent equity in Louisiana LNG Infrastructure (InfraCo), with the remainder being owned by US private equity firm Stonepeak.
