Rio Grande LNG granted DOE export permit

NextDecade on Wednesday said it has been granted authorization by the U.S. Department of Energy to export liquefied natural gas to free-trade agreement countries from its proposed Rio Grande LNG facility. 

DOE awarded a 30-year export permit, allowing NextDecade to export up to 27 mtpa from the facility at the Port of Brownsville, the company’s statement shows.

Alfonso Puga, NextDecade chief commercial officer noted the DOE authorization is a step towards making the final investment decision in 2017.

The company has already signed non-binding agreements in November 2015, to sell 14 mtpa of LNG to customers across Asia and Europe. Since then the number has grown to 30 mtpa.

NextDecade expects to receive FERC approval for Rio Grande LNG in 2017 with initial LNG exports shipping by the end of 2020, the statement reads.