US Authorizes 13% Increase in Exports at Venture Global's Plaquemines LNG Terminal — Full DOE Breakdown

In a direct and targeted policy response to the West Asia war's disruption of global LNG supply, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has authorized an immediate 13% increase in exports at Venture Global's Plaquemines LNG Terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Today's signed export authorization allows additional exports of up to 0.45 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of US natural gas as LNG to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries from the Plaquemines LNG Terminal. With today's order, Plaquemines LNG is now authorized to immediately export a total of 3.85 Bcf/d to both FTA and non-FTA countries — strengthening global natural gas supplies with reliable American LNG. Here is the complete breakdown of what this authorization means, why it was issued now, and what it signals for US LNG export policy.

Secretary Wright's Statement: Direct Response to Iran's Hormuz Disruption

"At a time when Iran and its terrorist proxies attempt to disrupt the global energy supply, the Trump Administration remains committed to strengthening American energy dominance," said Secretary Wright. The framing is deliberate and politically significant — the DOE is positioning this authorization as a direct counter-move to Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global LNG flows. By authorizing an additional 0.45 Bcf/d of US LNG exports from a terminal that is already operational and exporting commissioning cargoes, the administration is demonstrating that it has the policy tools and the physical infrastructure to partially offset the Qatari supply disruption in real time.

The move also carries a strong signal to European and Asian allies: since President Trump ended the previous administration's LNG export approval ban, the Department has approved more than 18.6 Bcf/d of LNG export authorizations — a capacity well in excess of the United States' export capacity on President Trump's Inauguration Day in 2025. For the complete official DOE export authorization order and the full regulatory text, the US Department of Energy's official announcement is the primary and authoritative source for all compliance and contractual reference purposes.

What Changed: The Before and After of Plaquemines LNG Authorization

The new authorization is specifically targeted at expanding the volume Plaquemines LNG can export to non-FTA countries — the category that imports the majority of US LNG and includes key European nations (Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy) and major Asian buyers (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India) that do not have Free Trade Agreements with the US requiring national treatment for gas trade.

  • Previous non-FTA authorization: ~3.4 Bcf/d
  • Additional authorization (March 2026): +0.45 Bcf/d
  • New total authorized (FTA + non-FTA combined): 3.85 Bcf/d
  • Percentage increase: 13%
  • Effective date: Immediate — no ramp-up period required

Plaquemines LNG commenced exports in December 2024 and has rapidly been able to increase its export levels to over 3 Bcf/d. The terminal's ability to reach 3 Bcf/d so quickly is a direct reflection of Venture Global's modular mid-scale liquefaction train design — which allows incremental capacity additions through sequential train commissioning rather than requiring a single large-scale construction completion event.

Venture Global's Operational Status: 234 Commissioning Cargoes in 2025

The timing of the DOE authorization aligns with Venture Global's own rapidly expanding operational footprint. Venture Global recently publicly announced that Plaquemines LNG exported 234 commissioning cargoes in 2025 and forecasted that it will export 340–371 cargoes in 2026. This trajectory — a projected 46–58% increase in cargo count year-over-year — reflects both the continued commissioning of additional modular trains and the commercial optimisation strategy of maximising spot sales during the extended commissioning window.

Venture Global's strategy is to have extended commissioning periods so it can maximise profits through spot sales at prices higher than it can get under long-term contracts, and to produce at well above the plant's design capacity to sell excess LNG on the spot market. Plaquemines is expected to be in commissioning for almost three years when Phase 1 and Phase 2 are combined, with all commissioning profits going to the company — with long-term customers receiving their first cargoes in 2026 and 2027.

Phase 1 Deliveries On Schedule: Shell and Orlen Reassured

Amid the commercial optimisation and regulatory expansion, Venture Global has moved quickly to reassure long-term contract holders that the West Asia war's market disruption will not delay their contracted supply. Venture Global LNG told customers of its Plaquemines export plant that it will start delivering contracted cargoes on schedule and at the already-agreed-upon prices. The company wrote to buyers of Plaquemines Phase 1 — which include British major Shell and Poland's Orlen — and said it remains committed to beginning long-term deliveries from October 31, 2026 despite a surge in global gas prices because of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

"As global energy markets react to the critical developments surrounding Iran and the Middle East, we wanted to assure you that, as of today, Phase 1 remains on schedule," the letter said. "To be clear, fluctuating market conditions have no impact on our previously communicated schedule. Nearly 70% of the 2026 cargoes at Plaquemines are already contracted for and we reaffirm that Phase One remains on target to declare COD in Q4 2026."

The Broader Context: US LNG as the West's Strategic Energy Weapon

The Plaquemines authorization is the latest in a series of accelerated US LNG export approvals since the West Asia war began. The US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran's attacks on Gulf neighbours have disrupted oil and natural gas exports from the Middle East and forced production stoppages, including in Qatar, which stopped operations at its LNG facilities — affecting some of the world's largest plants and a source that supplies about 20% of global LNG. Benchmark gas prices have jumped, with Dutch TTF futures trading at a three-year high of around $21 per MMBtu, and the Japan-Korea Marker near a two-year high around $16.

The US LNG export capacities are expected to increase by more than 50% by 2026 and LNG export volumes to double by 2050. The Plaquemines 13% authorization increase is a small but symbolically important step in what is becoming a structural reorientation of global LNG trade routes — with US Gulf Coast terminals replacing Middle Eastern supply for European and Asian buyers who can no longer rely on Qatari and Iranian-adjacent supply chains.

Key Facts at a Glance

  • Authorization Issuer: US Department of Energy (Energy Secretary Chris Wright)
  • Terminal: Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
  • Authorization Type: Immediate increase in non-FTA country exports
  • Additional Export Volume Authorized: +0.45 Bcf/d (non-FTA)
  • New Total Authorized Export Capacity: 3.85 Bcf/d (FTA + non-FTA combined)
  • Percentage Increase: 13% (immediate)
  • Exports Commenced: December 2024
  • Current Export Level: Over 3 Bcf/d
  • 2025 Commissioning Cargoes: 234
  • 2026 Commissioning Cargo Forecast: 340–371
  • Phase 1 COD Target: Q4 2026
  • Phase 1 Long-Term Delivery Start: October 31, 2026
  • Key Phase 1 Customers: Shell (UK), Orlen (Poland)
  • 2026 Cargoes Already Contracted: ~70%
  • Total DOE LNG Authorizations (Under Trump Admin): 18.6+ Bcf/d
  • Plaquemines Phase 2 + Expansion Target: 35 MTPA (FERC application pending — June 2026 target)
  • FERC-Authorized Peak Capacity (Current): 27.2 MTPA
  • FERC-Requested Peak Capacity (Expansion): 35.0 MTPA
  • Dutch TTF (Post-War): ~$21/MMBtu (3-year high)
  • Japan-Korea Marker (Post-War): ~$16/MMBtu (2-year high)
  • Environmental Assessment: DOE acknowledged adverse impact, assessed as acceptable and not inconsistent with applicable standards

Conclusion

The US Department of Energy's authorization of a 13% immediate export increase at Venture Global's Plaquemines LNG Terminal is a precisely targeted policy response to the West Asia war's most economically damaging consequence: the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz to LNG tanker traffic. By adding 0.45 Bcf/d of non-FTA export capacity from a terminal that is already operational, exporting over 3 Bcf/d, and on track to deliver 340–371 cargoes in 2026, the Trump administration is demonstrating that US LNG infrastructure can respond to supply shocks with genuine commercial speed — not just regulatory intent.

For Shell, Orlen, and the other Phase 1 long-term contract holders, Venture Global's confirmation that October 31, 2026 deliveries remain on schedule provides the contractual certainty that Europe's energy security planners desperately need right now. For the global LNG market, the Plaquemines authorization is a concrete signal that US Gulf Coast supply will partially offset the Qatari gap — though at TTF prices of $21/MMBtu, demand destruction and fuel-switching will also be necessary complements. Follow live Venture Global LNG updates from the US DOE official release, Reuters Energy, and Natural Gas Intelligence for the latest authorization and cargo flow data.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or energy procurement advice. Please verify all regulatory details directly with the US Department of Energy and FERC before making any commercial or compliance decisions.