On April 21, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Policy Statement for issuance in the Federal Register reaffirming the seven-year deadline for authorization holders to commence exports of domestically produced natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries set forth in long-term authorizations issued under the Natural Gas Act. This Policy Statement was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2023. For existing and future non-FTA authorizations for the export of LNG, DOE will allow authorizations to expire on the export commencement deadline originally set forth in the order and will not consider an application for an extension, unless the authorization holder demonstrates both that: (i) it has physically commenced construction on the associated export facility, and (ii) its inability to comply with the existing export commencement deadline is the result of extenuating circumstances outside of its control.  Authorization holders unable to make this demonstration may submit a new non-FTA application, which will be considered without prejudice.  This policy will increase transparency for non-FTA authorization holders and pending applicants who have not yet commenced exports, while providing greater certainty about DOE’s approvals for the LNG export market.   

                  Current Export Commencement Deadlines in Long-Term Non-FTA Orders

                                                              (as of May 16, 2023)

The export commencement deadline for each existing long-term non-FTA order is identified below.  The list does not include authorizations for small-scale exports of natural gas.

* indicates an extended export commencement deadline, approved under the corresponding DOE order.

Docket No.  Order No.  Date Issued  Authorization Holder(s)  Current Export Commencement Deadline
14-179-LNG 3768 2/5/2016 Pieridae Energy (USA) Ltd.

2/5/22023

(Under DOE Review)

13-132-LNG 3909 11/30/2016 Magnolia LNG, LLC

11/30/2023

(Under DOE Review)

13-147-LNG 4028 6/1/2017 Delfin LNG LLC 6/1/2024
12-156-LNG 3978-C 4/25/2017, as amended Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC 9/30/2025*
18-70-LNG 4312 12/14/2018 Mexico Pacific Limited LLC 12/14/2025
11-59-LNG 3324-C 7/29/2016, as amended Lake Charles Exports, LLC 12/16/2025*
13-04-LNG 3868-B 7/29/2016, as amended Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC 12/16/2025*
16-109-LNG 4010-B 6/29/2017, as amended Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC 12/16/2025*
16-110-LNG 4011-B 6/29/2017, as amended Lake Charles Exports, LLC 12/16/2025*
18-144-LNG 4364 3/29/2019 ECA Liquefaction, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mid-Scale Project)

3/29/2026

18-145-LNG 4365 3/29/2019 Energía Costa Azul, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Large-Scale Project) 3/29/2026
16-144-LNG 4373 5/2/2019 Driftwood LNG LLC 5/2/2026
15-90-LNG 3846-A 7/15/2016, as amended Cameron LNG, LLC (Expansion Project) 5/5/2026*
18-26-LNG 4374 5/28/2019 Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction 4, LLC (Train 4 Project) 5/28/2026
12-101-LNG 4410 7/31/2019 Gulf LNG Liquefaction Company, LLC 7/31/2026
16-28-LNG 4446 10/16/2019 Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC 10/16/2026
15-62-LNG 4489 2/10/2020 Texas LNG Brownsville LLC 2/10/2027
18-78-LNG 4490 2/10/2020 Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (Stage 3 Project) 2/10/2027
15-190-LNG 4492 2/10/2020 Rio Grande LNG, LLC 2/10/2027
20-31-LNG 4629 12/8/2020 Epcilon LNG LLC 12/8/2027
15-96-LNG 4372-B 5/2/2019, as amended Port Arthur LNG, LLC 6/18/2028*
20-153-LNG 4929 12/20/2022 Vista Pacifico LNG, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Mid-Scale Project) 12/20/2029
14-96-LNG 3643-A 8/20/2020 Alaska LNG Project LLC 8/20/2032