U.S. Energy Policy in Focus: Possible Impacts of a Donald Trump Election Victory on LNG Exports

A victory for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential elections in the USA could pave the way for a quicker lifting of the moratorium on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and open new opportunities in the US market. This assessment was recently expressed by the CEO of Technip Energies, Arnaud Pieton, during an investor call. Since January, the Biden Administration’s energy department has paused the approval of new LNG export licenses for countries without free trade agreements in order to update economic and environmental studies. In July, a federal judge blocked the government's ability to maintain the moratorium. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has not yet commented on whether she would continue the moratorium. In contrast, Trump has announced plans to expedite approvals in the energy sector, although this could be affected by his planned 60% tariffs on imports from China. Pieton pointed out that a Trump victory could lift the moratorium more quickly, while a Harris victory wouldn't necessarily mean that the measures wouldn't be lifted, but it might take more time. Technip Energies, which recently secured several major contracts, including a consortium for the Lake Charles LNG facility in the USA in collaboration with Energy Transfer, has raised its annual revenue forecast this year. These developments show how closely political decisions are tied to the energy industry and the far-reaching impacts they can have on international energy projects.