DOE Grants Alaska LNG Conditional Authorization to Export to Non-FTA Nations
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has conditionally authorized Alaska LNG Project, LLC (Alaska LNG) to export up to approximately 20 million metric tons per annum (929 Bcf/year) of LNG produced from Alaska sources over a 30-year term. The order permits Alaska LNG to export LNG by vessel from the proposed Alaska LNG Project in the Nikiski area of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska to nations without a Free Trade Agreement (non-FTA) with the United States. The authorization is conditioned on Alaska LNG’s satisfactory completion of the environmental review process for its project before FERC. DOE stated that it was issuing the order to provide regulatory certainty on the non-environmental aspects of the LNG export application since the Alaska LNG Project includes an 800-mile pipeline, is substantially more capital-intensive and will require substantially greater expense toward environmental review than projects in the lower 48 states.