Argent LNG has passed an early regulatory milestone for the proposed Louisiana export project with a US Department of Energy (DOE) authorization to ship up to 25 Mt/y of LNG to free trade agreement (FTA) countries while broader international exports remain pending. The authorization also includes an additional three-year period after the 20-year term for Argent to export any approved volumes it was unable to ship during the original period. However, the order applies only to countries that have qualifying free trade agreements with the United States. Argent’s request to export to non-FTA countries is being considered separately, leaving authorization outstanding for most markets involved in the developer’s tentative commercial agreements. The project could eventually add about 3.5 Bcf/d of feedgas demand in southeast Louisiana, adding to a network already reshaped by Plaquemines LNG.