Letter to Obama urges expansion of LNG exports

US Senator Jim Inhofe, senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, has sent a letter to President Obama highlighting the steps Lithuania is taking to free themselves of energy dependency on Russia and to support regional stability.

Lithuania’s leadership

Inhofe sent the letter after attending the inauguration of Lithuania’s first LNG import facility in Klaipeda.

Inhofe wrote: "The inauguration of Lithuania’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility marks an important step in our European allies’ efforts to free themselves from the grip and influence of Russia, which manipulates natural resources markets to advance its foreign policy agenda. Energy assets have always been seen as strategic from a geopolitical perspective, and Russia has long been among the most aggressive at exercising this power.

Russian monopoly?

"The strong arm of Russia’s energy exports enables the nation to act as a bully to many of our strongest allies, and it is threatening energy embargoes if political steps are taken that President Putin does not like. Fortunately, the region is bolstering its energy infrastructure with additional LNG import terminals and pipeline capacity, which are lessening Russia’s grip.

"With that in mind, it is now our responsibility to supply their demand with American natural gas. I applaud the steps your Administration has taken to approve permits for facilities to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have Free Trade Agreements; it is imperative that you continue building on this success."

LNG exports

Inhofe has long advocated for the export of domestic LNG, and in July 2013 led a bipartisan letter with 33 of his colleagues, urging the US Department of Energy (DOE) to expedite its consideration of LNG export permit applications.

Inhofe concluded: "Global demand for LNG is expanding, and the more LNG the United States makes available, the more quickly we will be able to turn the tables on President Putin and ensure the energy security of our friends and allies around the world.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/28102014/inhofe-letter-to-obama-on-lng-exports-1682/