Change in Control (or Transfer) of Authorizations to Import or Export Natural Gas

Overview:

Under DOE’s regulations, applications to import or export natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), into or from the United States must identify “all the participants in the transaction, including the parent company, if any, and identification of any corporate or other affiliations among the participants.” 10 C.F.R. § 590.202(b)(3). Either before or after DOE issues a final authorization, however, the ownership or management of the entity may change hands, resulting in a change in control (CIC).

Please see DOE’s Procedures for Changes in Control Affecting Applications and Authorizations To Import or Export Natural Gas, 79 Fed. Reg. 65,541 (Nov. 5, 2014) (Procedures), for the regulations and procedures that apply depending on whether an applicant or an authorization holder undergoes a change in control.

As set forth in the Procedures, DOE construes a change in control to mean a change, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management or policies of an entity whether such power is exercised through one or more intermediary companies or pursuant to an agreement, written or oral, and whether such power is established through ownership or voting of securities, or common directors, officers, or stockholders, or voting trusts, holding trusts, or debt holdings, or contract, or any other direct or indirect means. A rebuttable presumption that control exists will arise from the ownership or the power to vote, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting securities of such entity. See id. at 65,542.

In 2019, DOE further explained that the Procedures pertain to “external transfers or assignments, not purely internal corporate reorganizations”—such as those involving a “reshuffling of wholly-owned subsidiaries within the same parent organization.” See DOE’s Response to Port Arthur LNG’s Notice of Internal Corporate Reorganization, Docket Nos. 15-53-LNG, 18-162-LNG, and 15-96-LNG (Apr. 11, 2019).

For questions pertaining to DOE’s change in control procedures, please contact the Division of Natural Gas Regulation at FERGAS@hq.doe.gov.

Service Requirement:

Any applicant or authorization holder submitting a change in control filing to DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) must comply with DOE’s service requirements, set forth in 10 C.F.R. § 590.107. This includes serving a copy of the filing on all parties on the official service list for the applicable docket(s).

CIC Proceedings:

Applications submitted to FECM requesting a change in control, and FECM’s responses to date, are listed below in chronological order.

	DOCKET NO.	AUTHORIZATION HOLDER	DATE SUBMITTED	DOE RESPONSE
1.	14-001-CIC, 11-145-LNG, 11-162-LNG	Cameron LNG, LLC	02/12/2014 04/02/2014	Order 3452 - Approving Change In Control of Export Authorizations
2.	14-003-CIC, 12-174-LNG 14-002-CIC, 12-184-LNG	Pangea LNG (North America) Holdings, LLC	03/31/2014 03/31/2014	Notice of Corporate Reorganization of Change in Control and Amendment of Pending Application to Export LNG to Non-free Trade Agreement Countries to Reflect Name Change to NextDecade Partners, LLC
3.	14-004-CIC; 13-140-LNG	Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, LLC	07/03/2014	Order 3464 Approving Change in Control to Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, LLC (FTANs)
4.	14-005-CIC; 10-160-LNG; 10-161-LNG, 11-161-LNG and 12-06-LNG	Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC	07/03/2014	Order 3495 - Approving Change in Control of Export Authorizations FE Dkts. 10-161-LNG; 10-160-LNG; 11-161-LNG; and 12-06-LNG
5.	13-69-LNG and 14-88-LNG	Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC (formerly Venture Global LNG, LLC)	09/22/2014	Notice of Corporate Reorganization or Change in Control and Amendment for Pending Applications to Export LNG to Free Trade Agreement Countries Notice of Corporate Reorganization or Change in Control and Amendment for Pending Applications to Export LNG to Non-free Trade Agreement Countries
6.	14-19-LNG and 14-29-LNG	Louisiana LNG Energy, LLC (acquisition by Parallax Enterprises (NOLA) LLC)	05/21/2015 10/02/2015	Notice of Corporate Reorganization or Change in Control and Amendment of Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Free Trade Agreement Countries. Notice of Corporate Reorganization or Change in Control and Amendment of Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-free Trade Agreement Countries. Order Correcting Change in Control and Amendment Reflecting Louisiana LNG Energy, LLC as Authorization Holder Order Correcting Notice of Corporate Reorganization or CIC and Amendment of Authorization
7.	14-179-LNG	Pieridae Energy (USA) Ltd.	12/18/2015	Response to Erik J.A. Swenson Granting Pieridae's CIC Request of December 18, 2015
8.	12-152-LNG and 13-153-LNG	Commonwealth LNG, LLC (formerly Waller LNG Services, LLC (d/b/a Waller Point LNG)	12/23/2015	Notice of Corporate Reorganization or Change in Control and Corporate Name Change Amending DOE/FE Order No. 3211 Pending NFTA Application in FE Docket No. 13-153-LNG
9.	10-85-LNG; 10-111-LNG; 12-97-LNG; 12-99-LNG; 13-30-LNG; 13-42-LNG; 13-121-LNG; 14-31-LNG; 14-92-LNG; 14-186-NG; 15-63-LNG; 15-97-LNG and 15-171-LNG	Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC, Cheniere Marketing, LLC, and Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC	01/15/2016	Letter Regarding Change in Control Updated Letter Regarding Change in Control
10.	11-59-LNG; 03-76-LNG; 04-39-LNG; 05-114-LNG, 06-03-LNG; 06-04-LNG; 06-086-LNG and 08--64-LNG	Lake Charles Exports, LLC and BG LNG Services, LLC	02/17/2016	Response and Acceptance to Statement of Change in Control Notification of 2/17/16 Errata to 7/26/16 Response to CIC Letter Correcting Docket No. from FE Dkt. No. 06-08-LNG to 06-06-LNG
11.	15-62-LNG	Texas LNG Brownsville LLC	02/18/2016	Letter to Applicant Approving Request for Change in Control
12.	14-005-CIC; 10-160-LNG; 10-161-LNG, 11-161-LNG and 12-06-LNG	Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC	03/02/2016	Letter Approving the Change in Control as to Previously Issued NFTA LNG Export Authorizations.
13.	13-26-LNG	Main Pass LMC AS (MPEH LLC) (formerly Freeport-McMoRan LLC)	09/29/2016 11/15/2016	Letter to John S. Decker Responding to Change in Control Request Letters Submitted to the Department on September 29, 2016 and November 15, 2016 to Grant Transfer of FME to MPEH LLC
14.	14-63-CNG	Pentagon Energy, L.L.C. (formerly Wentworth Gas Marketing LLC)	01/25/2017	Response Statement Granting Request for Change in Control
15.	16-144-LNG	Driftwood LNG LLC	02/17/2017	Statement and Notice of Change in Control
16.	14-179-LNG	Pieridae Energy (USA) Ltd.	05/22/2017 11/01/2017	Statement Regarding Change in Control
17.	12-183-LNG; 13-131-LNG; 13-132-LNG	Magnolia LNG, LLC	07/20/2017	Letter in Response to 07/20/17 Amending Description of Equity Commitment
18.	15-190-LNG	Rio Grande LNG, LLC	08/23/2017	Response to CIC Request for Change in Ownership and Notice of Amendment
19.	10-85-LNG; 10-111-LNG; 13-30-LNG; 13-42-LNG; 13-121-LNG; 14-92-LNG; 15-63-LNG; 16-197-LNG and 17-161-LNG	Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC	12/19/2017	Response to 12/19/17 CIC Notification
20.	14-209-LNG and 15-19-LNG	American LNG Marketing, LLC	01/09/2018	Response to Change in Control Request Submitted January 9, 2018
21.	11-127-LNG and 12-32-LNG	Jordan Cove Energy Project L.P.	02/06/2018	Response to Change in Control Request
22.	11-145-LNG; 11-162-LNG; 14-204-LNG; 15-36-LNG; 15-67-LNG; 15-90-LNG	Cameron LNG, LLC	03/23/2018	Letter in Response to March 23, 2018 Notifying the Department to the CIC on behalf of Cameron LNG, LLC Letter Granting Proposed Change in Control Immediately
23.	15-53-LNG and 15-96-LNG	Port Arthur LNG, LLC	03/30/2018
24.	11-145-LNG; 11-162-LNG; 14-204-LNG; 15-36-LNG; 15-67-LNG; 15-90-LNG; 16-34-LNG	Cameron LNG, LLC	03/30/2018
25.	13-129-LNG and 13-147-LNG	Delfin LNG, LLC.	07/11/2018	Response to Request for Change in Control Letter Granting Request for CIC
26.	14-179-LNG	Pieridae Energy (USA) Ltd.	08/31/2018	Granting CIC Request for Long-Term Authorization
27.	13-140-LNG; 19-34-LNG	Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, LLC	11/16/2018 03/29/2019	Response to 11/16/18 Statement of Change in Control
28.	15-53-LNG, 18-162-LNG, and 15-96-LNG	Port Arthur LNG, LLC	01/04/2019 02/01/2019 04/09/2019	Letter Responding to CIC Notification submitted by Port Arthur to the Department
29.	15-62-LNG	Texas LNG Brownsville LLC	04/12/2019 05/20/2019	Response to CIC Request
30.	13-140-LNG; 19-34-LNG	Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, LLC	04/26/2019	Letter to Brian Wright in Response to Change in Ownership Filed 4/26/19
31.	12-88-LNG and 12-156-LNG	Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC (formerly Golden Pass Products LLC)	07/17/2019	Order Granting Request to Transfer Authorizations and Responding to Statement of Change in Control
32.	18-144-LNG	ECA Liquefaction, S. de R.L. de C.V. (formerly Energia Costa Azul, S. de R.L. de C.V.)	08/15/2019 09/09/2019	Order Granting Request to Transfer Authorizations (transferring authorization to ECA Liquefaction, S. de R.L. de C.V.)
33.	13-69-LNG; 14-88-LNG; 15-25-LNG	Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC	09/06/2019	Notification Regarding Equity Ownership Change in Accordance with Procedures for Change in Control
34.	11-115-LNG, 11-128-LNG, 18-180-LNG, 19-156-LNG	Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP	10/23/2019 02/11/2020	Statement and Notice of Change in Control
35.	14-179-LNG	Pieridae Energy (USA) Ltd.	11/06/2019	Notice of Change in Control
36.	18-70-LNG	Mexico Pacific Limited LLC	11/18/2019 01/14/2020	Notice of Change in Control
37.	12-183-LNG, 13-131-LNG, 13-132-LNG	Magnolia LNG, LLC	06/24/2020	Statement and Notice Regarding Change in Control
38.	14-96-LNG	Alaska LNG Project LLC	07/06/2020	Response to Notification Regarding Change in Control
39.	11-115-LNG, 11-128-LNG, 18-180-LNG, 19-156-LNG	Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP	07/09/2020	Notification Regarding Change in Control
40.	10-85-LNG, 10-111-LNG, 13-30-LNG, 13-42-LNG, 13-121-LNG, 14-92-LNG, 15-63-LNG, 19-125-LNG, 19-133-LNG, 20-28-LNG and 20-114-LNG	Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC	09/23/2020	Response to Notification Regarding Change in Indirect Equity Ownership
41.	18-144-LNG	ECA Liquefaction, S. de R.L. de C.V.	01/07/2021	Statement of Change in Control
42.	11-145-LNG. 14-204-LNG, 15-36-LNG, 11-162-LNG, 15-67-LNG, 15-90-LNG, 19-62-LNG, 19-45-NG, 18-144-LNG, 18-145-LNG, 15-53-LNG, 15-96-LNG, 18-162-LNG, 20-23-LNG, 20-43-NG, 19-65-LNG, 20-52-LNG, 20-145-NG, & 20-153-LNG	Cameron LNG, LLC, et al.	04/30/2021 05/03/2021 05/19/2021	DOE's Response to Statement of Change in Control
43.	18-70-LNG	Mexico Pacific Limited LLC	10/27/2021 11/23/2021	Notification Regarding Change in Control
44.	10-160-LNG, 10-161-LNG, 11-161-LNG, 12-06-LNG, 16-108-LNG, 18-26-LNG, 21-98-LNG	Freeport LNG Development, L.P.	01/13/2022 01/27/2022 03/03/2022	Order Approving Change in Control
45.	11-145-LNG, 11-162-LNG, 14-204-LNG, 15-36-LNG, 15-67-LNG, 15-90-LNG, 21-50-NG, 18-144-LNG, 18-145-LNG, 15-53-LNG, 15-96-LNG, 18-162-LNG, 20-23-LNG, 20-43-NG, 21-83-NG, 20-52-LNG, 20-145-NG, 20-153-LNG	Cameron LNG, LLC, et al.	02/22/2022	Order 4815 Approving Change in Control
46.	18-78-LNG	Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III, LLC	03/28/2022	Response to the Notice of Corporate Reorganization and Request for Transfer Order Granting Request to Amend Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Reflect Corporate Reorganization
47.	20-73-CNG	Andalusian Energy, LLC	04/01/2022	Response to Statement and Notice of Change in Control
48.	11-59-LNG, 16-110-LNG	Lake Charles Exports, LLC	05/17/2022	Response to Notice of Change in Control
49.	15-53-LNG, 15-96-LNG, 18-162-LNG	Port Arthur LNG, LLC	12/21/2022	Response to Notice of Change in Control
50.	21-53-NG, 21-59-NG, 21-73-NG	Hudson Energy Services, LLC; Just Energy New York Corp.; Just Energy Ontario, L.P.	01/13/2023	Response to Notice of Change in Control
51.	15-53-LNG, 15-96-LNG, 18-162-LNG	Port Arthur LNG, LLC	04/25/2023
52.	11-115-LNG, 11-128-LNG, 22-22-LNG, 22-155-LNG	Cove Point LNG, LP	07/11/2023
53.	15-190-LNG	Rio Grande LNG, LLC	08/16/2023