New Fortress Energy earns approvals for non-FTA LNG exports

New Fortress Energy said September 3 it had received US Department of Energy (DoE) approval to export up to 1.4mn tonnes/year of LNG to countries without a free trade agreement from its first Fast LNG (Fast LNG 1) facility, recently commissioned offshore Altamira, Mexico.

The non-FTA authorisation, which carries a term of five years, combines with FTA authorisations for the same volume to allow NFE to export Fast LNG 1 output to LNG markets and customers worldwide. The DoE authorisation was one of the first since a federal judge in July halted the Biden administration’s pause on new non-FTA export applications.

“This important authorisation cements NFE’s position as a leading global vertically integrated gas to power company and enhances the marketability of our FLNG 1 asset,” NFE CEO Wes Edens said. “NFE is now able to freely supply cheaper and cleaner natural gas to underserved markets across the world and further our goal of accelerating the world’s energy transition.”

NFE produced first LNG from Fast LNG 1 in July, while a second Fast LNG unit, an onshore facility, is under construction near Altamira and is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026.