Oil Heavyweights Take Aim at Biden’s LNG Permitting Freeze
(Bloomberg) -- Top oil industry lobbying groups set the stage for a potential lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s pause in approving new liquefied natural gas exports.
In a petition filed Monday with the Energy Department, the American Petroleum Institute and six other groups say the indefinite delay runs afoul of a legal mandate for the agency to issue permits to broadly export LNG unless there’s been a clear finding the shipments aren’t in the public interest. The petition calls the move “arbitrary and capricious” and says it violates administrative requirements in federal law — a prelude to potential litigation that could raise the same claims.
The filing underscores deep industry angst over the Biden administration moratorium that threatens to disrupt plans for multibillion-dollar export projects along the US Gulf Coast — while potentially encouraging overseas rivals to boost their LNG output. Qatar on Monday announced plans to double down on its ongoing supply wave with a new project capable of liquefying and exporting 16 million tons of gas annually.
Industry allies, including some moderate Democrats, have appealed to the administration to reverse course, and the House of Representatives passed legislation that effectively would preempt the pause. But the legislation is unlikely to pass the Senate — and even if it did, it probably would be vetoed.
“At a time of geopolitical turmoil around the world, the Department of Energy’s arbitrary LNG freeze is not only unlawful, it cedes America’s energy advantage to hostile nations while jeopardizing thousands of American jobs,” Rob Jennings, an API vice president, said in a news release. “There is bipartisan recognition that this move is political, and we will continue to take any steps necessary to resume American leadership on LNG.”
President Joe Biden last month ordered the halt in approving new licenses to export LNG to European, Asian and other countries that are not US free-trade partners while the Energy Department scrutinizes how the shipments affect climate change, the economy and national security. Those studies are set to inform future Energy Department decisions about the path forward and pending export applications, including potentially prolonging the moratorium.
Other groups signing the petition for rehearing included the American Exploration and Production Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas.
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
KEEPING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY CONNECTED
Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best of Energy Connects directly to your inbox each week.
By subscribing, you agree to the processing of your personal data by dmg events as described in the Privacy Policy.
More oil news
![Eni](/media/zrnnqrv2/eni.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132771144027800000&format=webp)
Eni signed exclusivity agreement with KKR for the potential sale of a minority stake in Enilive
![Woodside](/media/tq5juvf3/woodside.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132834340121370000&format=webp)
Woodside's quarterly revenues exceed $3 billion backed by strategic milestones
![BloomburgMedia_SGUY72T0AFB400_22-07-2024_06-22-21_638572032000000000.jpg](/media/cfwjsnpi/bloomburgmedia_sguy72t0afb400_22-07-2024_06-22-21_638572032000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133661029417000000&format=webp)
Oil Rises as Biden Quits US Race, Blazes Threaten Canadian Wells
![BloomburgMedia_SGZSI8T1UM0W00_22-07-2024_07-32-52_638572032000000000.jpg](/media/yq5nxplm/bloomburgmedia_sgzsi8t1um0w00_22-07-2024_07-32-52_638572032000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133661071728370000&format=webp)
Kamala Harris Seen as Tougher Oil Industry Opponent Than Biden
![Oil And Gas Refinery Plant](/media/czhapv55/oil-and-gas-refinery-plant.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132900920345270000&format=webp)
PetroChina joins Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter
![GALP](/media/1dpp15bu/galp.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133661151184570000&format=webp)
Galp reports 16% rise in Q2 2024 net profit amid higher oil prices and lower production costs
![BloomburgMedia_SGXF3CT0AFB400_21-07-2024_06-00-10_638571168000000000.jpg](/media/pp5dhnc3/bloomburgmedia_sgxf3ct0afb400_21-07-2024_06-00-10_638571168000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133660152100830000&format=webp)
Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery Targets Output of 550,000 Barrels a Day
![BloomburgMedia_SGUD23DWLU6800_22-07-2024_07-49-38_638572032000000000.jpg](/media/ey5kep5x/bloomburgmedia_sgud23dwlu6800_22-07-2024_07-49-38_638572032000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133661081780600000&format=webp)
Oil Falls With Broader Commodity Weakness Amidst Listless Trade
![BloomburgMedia_SGVJS1T0G1KW00_19-07-2024_20-00-09_638569440000000000.jpg](/media/5yomaqhj/bloomburgmedia_sgvjs1t0g1kw00_19-07-2024_20-00-09_638569440000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133658928099030000&format=webp)
Occidental Planning to Sell Bonds in Up to Five Parts
![Oil Well (1)](/media/oxebekv0/oil-well.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132762511620370000&format=webp)
Bolivia’s YPFB to invest $400 million in new hydrocarbon exploration and development
![CSIS Thumbnail](/media/o0acqjyg/csis_thumbnail.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133566075809700000&format=webp)
CSIS: long-term LNG demand to reshape global export capacity growth
![Dr Carole Nakhle Thumbnail](/media/gqrpjths/dr-carole-nakhle_thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133542056370600000&format=webp)
More women in energy vital to the industry’s success
![Vandana Hari Thumbnail](/media/gz3dyktl/vandana-hari-thumbnail.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133511540022930000&format=webp)
India’s energy sector presents lucrative opportunities for global companies
![OIL INDIA Thumbnail (1)](/media/oddlww2x/oil-india-thumbnail-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133506537128730000&format=webp)
Oil India charts the course to ambitious energy growth
![DNV Thumbnail](/media/chkphnjn/dnv-thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133491856590700000&format=webp)
Maritime sector is stepping up to the challenges of decarbonisation
Partner content
![Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks-1859882229](/media/qlacaiww/navigating-the-trading-seas-exploring-the-significance-of-benchmarks-1859882229.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133613577584600000&format=webp)
Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks
![New Lng Ship Web 17829](/media/vjrjyypa/new-lng-ship-web-17829.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133179936218300000&format=webp)
Back to the Future(s): the best commodities benchmarks are still physically settled
![Dr Klaus](/media/4eyh2dr0/dr-klaus.jpg?center=0.3953747239980292,0.50683017007953435&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517897092430000&format=webp)
Ebara Elliott Energy offers a range of products for a sustainable energy economy
![ESSAR](/media/5uafghtj/essar.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133524466961070000&format=webp)
Essar outlines how its CBM contribution is bolstering for India’s energy landscape
![HNC 7611 V2](/media/0dqbya15/hnc_7611_v2.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517899616530000&format=webp)