Energy Transfer received a long-awaited extension for completion of the company’s Lake Charles LNG terminal from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Aug. 22.
The permit, which moves the project’s completion date to December 2031, had been held up for two years by the federal government. However, President Donald Trump’s administration has encouraged the development of LNG projects.
“On the heels of President Trump’s historic trade negotiations, demand for secure, reliable American LNG is surging,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a press release. “The Department of Energy is ensuring companies like Lake Charles LNG are prepared to meet this global demand while advancing common sense policies that support American jobs and lower energy costs here at home.”
In 2023, the Department of Energy denied Energy Transfer’s request to move the agreed-upon project completion date from December 2025 to December 2028. The ruling was made after the Biden administration implemented policies meant to restrict LNG development, according to the DOE order.
Energy Transfer reapplied for the extension in April 2025, this time moving the date back to December 2031.
Lake Charles LNG is designed for 16.5 metric tons per annum (mtpa) of capacity. The company has continued to line up commercial agreements for the project, recently signing with Chevron and Japan-based Kyushu Electric Power Co.
The Department of Energy extension gives Energy Transfer until 2031 to complete the Lake Charles LNG project. (Source: Energy Transfer)