Go-ahead for Pelican State’s multibillion-dollar LNG project to up its export ante

March 16th, 2026

Venture Global, an American producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sourced from North American basins, has received the green light from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to augment exports from its LNG facility south of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Plaquemines LNG; Courtesy of Venture Global LNG

Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy, has authorized an immediate 13% increase in exports at Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana, allowing additional exports of up to 0.45 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of U.S. natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries.

As a result, the project is now authorized to immediately export a total of 3.85 bcf/d to both FTA and non-FTA countries, which is perceived to strengthen global natural gas supplies with American LNG against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Secretary Wright highlighted: “At a time when Iran and its terrorist proxies attempt to disrupt the global energy supply, the Trump Administration remains committed to strengthening American energy dominance.

“Thanks to President Trump and American innovators, the U.S. is not only the largest producer and exporter of LNG but will more than double its LNG exports in the coming years. We will see meaningful additions to U.S. LNG export capacity at Plaquemines immediately and other facilities commencing operations in future weeks and months.”

Plaquemines LNG, which began exports in December 2024, has rapidly boosted its export levels to over 3 bcf/d. This authorization will allow for an immediate increase in the volumes of LNG that Plaquemines LNG can export to non-FTA countries, which import the majority of U.S. LNG.

Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, underlined: “Our mission to enable secure, reliable, and affordable energy has never been more important than now. I am pleased that DOE can take this action to be able to make an immediate difference to help add to global supplies of LNG.”

President Donald Trump is determined to ensure the United States is the world’s largest natural gas producer and exporter, enabling the DOE to approve more than 18.6 bcf/d of LNG export authorizations, said to be a capacity well in excess of the United States’ export capacity on his Inauguration Day in 2025.