US nod for shale gas export to India

Opening up the prospects of export of shale gas to energy starved India, the US on Saturday granted conditional authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to nations that do not have Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with it.

In a decision, which has major implications for India, the Department of Energy announced that that it has conditionally authorized Freeport LNG Expansion, LP and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (Freeport) to export domestically produced LNG to non-FTA countries from Freeport Terminal on Quintana Island in Texas.

Given that the companies from countries like China, Japan and Britain have already have an overwhelming stake in this Texas company, India is unlikely to benefit immediately from this grant of license.