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DOE announced on Friday that it has authorized an immediate 13 percent increase in exports at Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana.
The export authorization allows additional exports of up to 0.45 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of US natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries from the Plaquemines LNG facility.
“With today’s order, Plaquemines LNG is now authorized to immediately export a total of 3.85 Bcf/d to both FTA and non-FTA countries, strengthening global natural gas supplies with reliable American LNG, ” it said.
Venture Global took a final investment decision on the first phase of the Plaquemines project with a capacity of 13.3 mtpa and the related pipeline in May 2022.
In March 2023, the company sanctioned the second phase of the Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana and also secured $7.8 billion in project financing.
The full project, including the second stage, has 36 modular units, configured in 18 blocks.
The company is targeting a COD (commercial operations date) for the Plaquemines project in the fourth quarter of 2026 for Phase 1 and in mid-2027 for Phase 2.
27.2 mtpa
Last year, Venture Global received approval from the US FERC to boost the capacity of its Plaquemines LNG terminal to 27.2 mtpa, without any new facilities, construction activities, or modifications to the previously authorized facilities.
Plaquemines LNG sought an “uprate” amendment from FERC to increase the project’s peak liquefaction capacity under optimal conditions from 24 mtpa to 27.2 mtpa of LNG, or from approximately 1,240 Bcf/yr to 1,405.33 Bcf/yr of natural gas.
DOE noted in the new approval that, while Plaquemines LNG is already authorized to export LNG from the project in a volume equivalent to 1,405.33 Bcf/yr of natural gas to FTA countries, this new order “will give Plaquemines LNG the flexibility to allow exports to non-FTA countries consistent with the maximum production capacity authorized by FERC.”
“In sum, DOE grants the non-FTA portion of the amendment application in the full volume requested—165.33 Bcf/yr of natural gas, or approximately 0.45 Bcf per day (Bcf/d)—for a total export volume of 1,405.33 Bcf/yr,” it said.
DOE noted that, in recent weeks, the global supply of LNG has been “significantly impacted from the developments in the Middle East—including the supply disruption that occurred on March 2, 2026, from the drone strike at the Ras Laffan LNG export terminal operated by QatarEnergy, which has removed approximately 20 percent of global LNG supplies, and the ongoing force majeure curtailment of LNG production at QatarEnergy.”
“The need for additional U.S. LNG supplies from operating facilities like the Plaquemines LNG project that can be deployed immediately are essential to supplying the global LNG market,” DOE said.
Additional capacity
In addition to this capacity boost, Venture Global is seeking approval from FERC to increase the capacity of its Plaquemines LNG terminal to 35 mtpa.
Venture Global expects to add approximately 13 mtpa of bolt-on capacity at both the Plaquemines and its CP2 LNG terminals.
The company just took a final investment decision (FID) on the second phase of its CP2 LNG project in Louisiana.
It also closed an $8.6 billion project financing for the second phase.