The US Department of Energy has authorized Golden Pass LNG to re-export up to 50 bcf (1.4 bcm) of previously imported LNG over a two-year period, starting on 1 October 2025. The Golden Pass LNG export terminal, located in Texas (United States) and designed for a capacity of 18 Mt/year, is approaching the start of operations. The project is being developed by a joint venture between ExxonMobil (70%) and QatarEnergy (30%), with completion expected by the end of 2025 and first LNG production anticipated in 2026. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the commissioning of the LNG systems in late April 2025.
Under the terms of the authorization, imported LNG may enter the US via any receiving terminal, be stored at the Golden Pass site, and subsequently either re-exported or regasified for domestic consumption.
As of 2024, the United States operated seven LNG liquefaction export terminals, with a combined capacity of 119 bcm/year (88 Mt/year). Total US LNG export capacity is projected to increase by over 50% by 2026, with export volumes expected to double by 2050.