The Trump administration is giving developers of a Texas liquefied natural gas project more time to finish their project.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright approved a permit extension Wednesday for the Golden Pass LNG export terminal that’s under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas. The move by the Department of Energy extends — from Sept. 30, 2025, to March 31, 2027 — the deadline to begin commercial exports to countries that lack a free trade agreement with the U.S.
Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture company formed by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, is aiming to start producing LNG around the end of this year, with commercial export operations “following thereafter,” according to a statement Wednesday.
“These extensions build in time for contingencies to account for uncertainties outside of Golden Pass LNG’s control that can arise when constructing a project of this scale,” the company said. “Golden Pass LNG is pleased that both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management have approved requests for extension of permit deadlines for our Sabine Pass LNG project, clearing the regulatory path for the start-up of our commercial LNG export operations.”
