When a federal judge in Louisiana ruled in July that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) pause on new worldwide export permits for LNG projects was unlawful, it sparked a series of questions.
Energy investors and natural gas infrastructure developers were left asking whether this meant DOE would have to immediately restart considerations for non-free trade agreement (FTA) permits. They also questioned how soon until the next liquefied natural gas project is authorized, and which one could it be?
DOE answered at least two of those questions in a stealthy Labor Day weekend order. The agency authorized New Fortress Energy Inc. to export up to 1.4 million metric tons/year to non-FTA countries from its Fast LNG facility offshore Altamira, Mexico.
