Agencies call for increased US LNG deliveries to EU

A position paper issued by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) is pushing for large-scale U.S. LNG exports to the EU’s gas market.

The joint policy recommendations for the U.S. include for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to continue to enhance their established review and permitting processes while maintaining transparent and consistent approval timelines.

The pair called for the US regulators to expand their executive branch agency efforts to promote U.S. LNG in EU countries and for executive branch agencies to promote streamlined approval processes to ensure the construction of critical energy infrastructure in a timely manner.

“If we really want to reach our climate objectives in Europe, we need our policymakers to acknowledge the value and role of gas in both in the short and longer term. The U.S., the UK and others around the world have shown what an impact shifting from coal to gas makes from a CO2 emission reduction and air quality perspective,” said IOGP director of EU Affairs, François-Régis Mouton.

For the EU, the joint policy recommendations include sending consistent signals expressing confidence in the medium and long-term role of natural gas in the EU energy mix, the paper reads.

The two agencies have recommended the European Commission to work with member states to increase interconnectivity and to encourage public entities and businesses to use LNG and compressed natural gas (CNG) in transportation to reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality as well as for the Commission to avoid restrictive gas quality specifications that could create unnecessary barriers for LNG to enter the EU.