US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved an LNG export permit extension for Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC (Golden Pass) Mar. 5. The approval grants additional time to begin LNG exports from Golden Pass, currently under construction in Sabine Pass, Tex.
Golden Pass, owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil Corp., is set to begin exports as early as this year, when it would become the US’ ninth large-scale export terminal in operation. Once completed, Golden Pass will be able to export up to 2.57 bcfd of natural gas as LNG.
The issuance to Golden Pass marks the third LNG-related approval from DOE since President Trump took office, following an export approval to Commonwealth LNG Feb. 14 and an order removing regulatory barriers for using LNG as a marine fuel, signaling a significant shift in policy that could accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to alternative fuels (OGJ Online, Feb. 17, 2025).
“Golden Pass was the first project approved for exports to non-free trade agreement countries by DOE during the first Trump administration, and it is gratifying that this project is so close to being able to deliver its first LNG,” added Tala Goudarzi, acting principal deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
Golden Pass in 2024 requested a 3-year extension to Nov. 30, 2029, to place its 18-million tonne/year LNG plant into full service, citing delays caused by the bankruptcy filing of lead contractor, Zachry Industrial Inc. It contemporaneously filed a request with the Department of Energy for an extension of time under both its free-trade agreement (FTA) and non-FTA export authorizations to commence commercial operations from Train 1 on Mar. 31, 2027, an extension of 18 months (OGJ Online, Aug. 30, 2024).
At that time, Golden Pass said the three-train plant was 80% complete.
