API urges rapid approval for LNG export applications

Erik Milito, American Petroleum Institute director of upstream and industry operations has urged faster action after US Department of Energy announced new procedures to process over 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG).

According to the latest polls, 70 percent of registered voters agree that exporting natural gas helps create American jobs, and 67 percent understand that exporting natural gas is good for the US economy. Already, members of both the House and Senate are working to harness these benefits and lower US trade deficit.

It remains to be seen whether the new guidelines will improve the current process, but there’s no doubt that the system at present is adjudged to be too slow. The economic and environmental benefits of LNG exports are well-established by numerous studies and reports, and the time for review is past.