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The U.S.-based Crowley Maritime Corporation announced Tuesday that it gained approval from the U.S. and Canadian regulators to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada. 

The approvals by the U.S.' Department of Energy and Canada's National Energy Board give the company two-year import and export licenses to buy up to 2.12 billion cubic feet (63.6 million cubic meters) of LNG from Canada. 

The Florida-based company plans to transport and distribute the Canadian gas throughout the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. and in Alaska. 

Matt Sievert, Crowley’s director of business development, said in a statement that the regulatory authorization is an important step to meet their customers' demand, and noted "the availability of LNG has been very limited in the past."

According to the statement, Crowley is looking for long-term licenses for 25 years, and is "actively monitoring the development of Alaska LNG supply projects, which would be a closer source to the Alaska interior markets."

The U.S. Department of Energy has so far approved eight LNG export projects to target overseas markets, while the earliest shipments will begin at the beginning of next year. 

The LNG exports could reach areas where gas demand is high in the mid-term to meet increasing energy demand. 

By Ovunc Kutlu

Anadolu Agency

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