Statements of Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg as prepared at CERA Week in Houston, Texas on March 11, 2019

Thank you. 

I want to talk for a few minutes about the opportunities that are opening up with the expansion of American LNG exports – opportunities that are expanding to Poland in a very significant way.

As President Trump has said, U.S. energy exports “provide true energy security to our friends, partners, and allies all across the globe.”  Nowhere is that more evident than in the impact that U.S. LNG is having around the world.

In 2017, the United States became a net exporter of natural gas for the first time since 1957.  And American LNG exports continue to grow at historic levels. 

Right now, we have approximately 50 bcm/a of export capacity in operation.  By the end of next year, U.S. LNG export capacity is expected to grow by 150 percent over 2018 – with up to 110 bcm/a of export capacity expected to be online.  So, we have abundant natural gas resources and export infrastructure that promise to make the U.S. a leading global natural gas supplier. 

To date, the Department of Energy has authorized the export of 253 billion cubic meters per year of natural gas – or 190 million tons per annum of LNG – primarily spread across 11 large-scale export projects in Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Georgia, and the Gulf of Mexico.  These projects have authorizations to export LNG anywhere in the world not prohibited by U.S. law or policy.  And just last week we authorized Venture Global Calcasieu Pass to export up to 17.4 billion cubic meters per year.

And in addition to these authorizations, there are 12 projects in the FERC queue totaling an additional 223.9 billion cubic meters per year, or right at 167.8 million tons per annum of LNG.

In the meantime, the United States is currently exporting LNG to 34 countries on 5 continents and counting, marking 16 additional countries from the beginning of the Trump Administration.  And the EU recently pledged to import more American LNG to Europe, so we’re looking to expand exports to that market, as well.

So, U.S. LNG is having a global reach – and that reach extends to Poland.  During Secretary Perry’s visit to Poland last November, the Polish Oil and Gas Company and Cheniere Energy signed an historic 24-year agreement for supplies of LNG from the United States to be shipped to Poland.  This follows a contract between Venture Global and the Polish Oil and Gas Company for U.S. LNG that was signed last fall, and an agreement between Sempra and Polish Oil and Gas in December.

At the end of the day, the U.S. government and American companies stand ready to provide Poland – and other countries, as well – with a reliable, secure, and diverse source of energy.  And beyond that, we welcome the opportunity to help you develop the capacity to import our energy resources, but also to provide the experience and deploy leading-edge technologies and infrastructure that can use these fuels. 

Thank you.