Energy Department mulls planning shake-up

摘要

The US Department of Energy(DOE)wants to significantly change the way it evaluates LNG export applications by requir-ing projects to first secure environmental approvals. The proposed change would streamline the export approv-als process by excluding projects that do not complete expensive environmental reviews,which can cost as much as $100mn,according to estimates.The measure could benefit large companies,such as ExxonMobil,that have an existing LNG import facility but are further down the DOE’s queue for considering export licences.The planned 15.6mn t/yr Golden Pass LNG export venture in Texas,owned by Qatari state-owned energy group QP and ExxonMobil,is ninth on the DOE’s list of projects that are being considered for an export licence.