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U.S. natural gas may soon find its way overseas markets听via Canada, as the U.S. government granted authorization听for an Australian energy company to export U.S. natural gas to Canada, and export听liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada to overseas.听
Australian energy company,听Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, announced Friday that its wholly owned Bear Head LNG Corporation gained authorization from the the U.S. Department of Energy to export up to听440 billion cubic feet (12.32 billion cubic meters)听per year of U.S. natural gas to Canada.听
In addition, the U.S. department also approved the company to export听up to eight million tonnes per year (11 billion cubic meters)听of LNG听from Canada to free trade agreement (FTA)听countries.听
While the company expects听to export LNG to non鈥怓TA countries with another authorization from the U.S. department,听John Godbold, Bear Head's project director said this is the听"first proposed Canadian LNG export facility to be recognized by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an 'Approved'听Canadian LNG export project."
In an official statement, Bear Head also noted that it obtained the initial approvals from federal, provincial and local authorities to construct their LNG export project听on the Strait of Canso in Nova Scotia in southeastern Canada.听
Other applications of the company pending approval of听Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) is听to import natural gas from the U.S. and export LNG to听from Canada, which may be听expanded to 16.5听billion cubic meters in听2024.听听
A final investment decision on the LNG export project is expected to be made in 2016, while the export facility is projected to become operational in 2019.
By Ovunc听Kutlu听
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr
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