U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry spoke on Monday, October 23, at the Workshop on Sharing Natural Gas Development in Cape Town, South Africa.

The event, led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was part of the 24th annual Africa Oil Week (AOW), held in Cape Town. The annual conference brings together governments, oil and gas companies, investors, corporate players, independents, and financiers from around the world. Attendees have the opportunity to network, share information, and explore current trends in oil and gas.  

Several African countries are currently considering developing natural gas and LNG projects. Both import and export projects could provide significant economic opportunities for African and American companies to partner together.

"We want to be your partner," said Secretary Perry. He also noted that the U.S. and U.S. companies can “export not only LNG but also the technology and infrastructure to build gas economies across Africa."

In addition to Secretary Perry, other DOE representatives spoke at the event, including Office of International Affairs’ (IA’s) Andrea Lockwood, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Eurasia and James Jewel. The Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE’s) Industry Analyst Natenna Dobson also spoke at the event about U.S. gas regulation.

During the workshop, DOE officials unveiled an updated version of “Understanding Natural Gas & LNG Options.” The handbook covers issues and considerations in developing and financing natural gas and LNG projects. It also explores African market development and discusses LNG import and export projects versus country-to-country pipelines for intra-Africa gas sales. Developed by FE and IA, the U.S. Energy Association, and other experts, the handbook received funding from USAID/Power Africa. 

In addition to the workshop, FE’s Office of Oil and Natural Gas had an informational booth at the AOW conference, manned by Natenna Dobson and Olayinka Ogunsola.

The United States has become a leader in the global market for LNG. To date, DOE has authorized a total of more than 21 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas exports to anywhere in the world not prohibited by U.S. law or policy from existing and planned facilities in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. companies will benefit from natural gas and LNG development worldwide because nearly all large-scale LNG facilities in operation use liquefaction processes licensed and developed in the United States. At the same time, many facilities use parts and technology designed and built in the United States.