Commonwealth LNG reaches a key milestone for its U.S. export project

Commonwealth LNG has obtained a conditional non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) export authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy and a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) from the FERC, marking significant progress toward a final investment decision in September 2025.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Commonwealth LNG has announced that it has reached two key regulatory milestones in the development of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The company has received a conditional non-FTA export authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as well as a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Final investment decision scheduled for 2025

According to Commonwealth LNG, obtaining these regulatory approvals is a decisive step ahead of the issuance of a final decision by FERC, expected in July 2025. Following this approval and the DOE’s final authorization, the company plans to make a final investment decision (FID) in September 2025. If this timeline is met, the first LNG exports are expected in the first quarter of 2029.

A large-scale project for the energy industry

The Commonwealth LNG project involves the construction of a facility with a production capacity of 9.5 million tonnes of LNG per year. This initiative aligns with the U.S. strategy to expand LNG export infrastructure to strengthen the energy security of its international partners.

Economic impact and employment

The total investment in the project is estimated at approximately $11 billion, with potential export revenues of $3.5 billion per year once operational. During the construction phase, up to 2,000 workers will be employed on-site, and 270 permanent jobs will be created after the plant begins operations.

Outlook and next steps

The next major step for Commonwealth LNG depends on securing a favorable final opinion from FERC, followed by the DOE’s final approval. The completion of these regulatory processes will be crucial in advancing this project and integrating it into the growing U.S. LNG export capacity.

NextDecade confirmed a final investment decision for Train 5 at Rio Grande LNG, backed by full $6.7bn funding, marking its second decision in a month.
Sudan seeks partnership with Belarus to rehabilitate its energy grid amid prolonged humanitarian, economic and logistical crisis.
The Malaysian group launched three tenders to sell up to five liquefied natural gas cargoes in November and December, sourced from its Bintulu and PFLNG Dua facilities.
The South African government ends a thirteen-year freeze on shale gas, paving the way for renewed exploration in the Karoo Basin amid a national energy crisis.
Platts' physical pricing platform records its second-highest LNG trading volume, with nearly 1.5 million tonnes exchanged despite regional demand slowdown.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder supported the Nord Stream 2 pipeline before an inquiry, dismissing criticism over his role and Russian funding linked to the project.
Daily winter demand spikes are pushing Britain’s gas system to rely more on liquefied natural gas and fast-cycle storage, as domestic production and Norwegian imports reach seasonal plateaus with no room for short-term increases.
Rising terminal capacity and sustained global demand, notably from China and Europe, are driving U.S. ethane exports despite new regulatory uncertainties.
The United States has called on Japan to stop importing Russian gas, amid rising tensions over conflicting economic interests between allies in response to the indirect financing of the war in Ukraine.
Australian group Santos lowers its annual production forecast after an unplanned shutdown at the Barossa project and delayed recovery in the Cooper Basin.
VoltaGrid partners with Oracle to deploy modular gas-powered infrastructure designed to stabilise energy use in artificial intelligence data centres while creating hundreds of jobs in Texas.
GTT, Bloom Energy and Ponant Explorations Group launch a joint project to integrate LNG-powered fuel cells and a CO₂ capture system on a cruise ship scheduled for 2030.
Storengy has launched its 2025/2026 campaign to sell gas storage capacity over four years, targeting the commercialisation of nearly 100 TWh by 2030, with over 27 TWh available starting in 2026-27.
The US government has withdrawn its proposal to suspend liquefied natural gas export licences for failure to comply with maritime requirements, while maintaining a phased implementation schedule.
Soaring electricity demand in Batam, driven by new data centres, leads INNIO and MPower Daya Energia to secure 80 MW and launch a five-year maintenance programme.
Tamboran has completed a three-well drilling campaign in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, with 12,000 metres of horizontal sections prepared for stimulation and maintenance ahead of the commercial phase.
Valeura Energy partners with Transatlantic Petroleum to restart gas exploration in the Thrace basin, with testing and drilling planned this quarter in deep formations.
Calpine Corporation has finalised a public funding agreement to accelerate the construction of a peaking power plant in Freestone County, strengthening Texas’s grid response capacity during peak demand periods.
Naftogaz urges the European Union to use Ukraine’s gas storage capacity as part of a strategic reserve system, while calling for the end of storage filling obligations after 2027.
Spanish gas infrastructure operator Enagás is in advanced talks to acquire the 32% stake held by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC in Terega, valued at around €600mn ($633mn), according to sources familiar with the matter.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.