Southern LNG Company, a subsidiary of the North American energy infrastructure player Kinder Morgan, has received the go-ahead for additional exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a terminal in Chatham County, Georgia.
Chris Wright , U.S. Secretary of Energy, has authorized an immediate 22% increase in LNG exports from the Elba Island terminal in Georgia, enabling Kinder Morgan’s subsidiary, Southern LNG Company, as the operator of the LNG terminal, to export up to an additional 28.25 (bcf/yr) to non-free trade agreement countries (non-FTA).
This move is interpreted to strengthen global natural gas supplies with reliable U.S. LNG. Elba Island, which was given the go-ahead to export up to 130 billion cubic feet per year of natural gas as LNG to non-FTA countries, has been exporting U.S. LNG since 2019. The project is positioned to export the additional approved volumes immediately.
Kyle Haustveit , DOE Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, commented: “At a time when global energy supply routes face disruption, the United States remains a reliable energy partner to our allies and trading partners.
“DOE is using all available authorities to ensure American energy can reach global markets when it is needed most, supporting energy security and helping stabilize global energy supplies.”
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The U.S. explains that this action comes as global oil and LNG supply routes face disruption from tensions in the Middle East, which are threatening the reliable flow of energy through critical maritime corridors.
The government claims that it will continue to use its full set of authorities to ensure U.S. LNG remains a dependable energy source in global energy markets and a stabilizing presence in times of disruption.
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“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and American innovation, the United States is the world’s largest natural gas producer and exporter, with exports reaching all-time highs in March 2026,” highlighted the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office.
“Since President Trump ended the previous administration’s LNG export approval ban, the Department has approved more than 19 bcf/d of LNG export authorizations. With recent final investment decisions for additional export capacity, U.S. LNG exports are set to more than double from current levels by the early 2030s.”
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This authorization comes weeks after Venture Global got the all-clear from the U.S. Department of Energy to step up exports from its LNG facility south of New Orleans, Louisiana.