US presidential hopeful Donald J Trump has sought to clarify his plans for energy, and to allay reports suggesting that he has only a shaky grasp of the country’s potential gas exports – provoking a flurry of reactions in the press and on social media.
Last week, the energy website SNL reported that when coal industry boss Bob Murray asked Mr Trump whether he would allow more LNG terminals to export more US shale gas, the would-be Republican candidate answered, “What is LNG?”
The US has so far approved five LNG-export projects, with total liquefaction capacity of nearly 69 million tonnes a year (mta), most of it contracted to buyers in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
On Thursday, Mr Trump pledged to pursue an energy strategy to “put America first”, increasing US production of oil and gas, lifting federal restrictions on drilling offshore and fracking on state-owned land, and abolishing the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
“A Trump administration will focus on real environmental challenges,” Mr Trump said. “We’re going to bring back the coal industry… I love those people.”
Response to Mr Trump’s speech has been sceptical. Energy experts say that ramping up US fossil fuel production would simply drive down already weak oil and gas prices. The Republican candidate and reality TV star has pledged to fight to save coal jobs, slammed windfarms and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and doubted the existence of climate change.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: LNG WORLD SHIPPING
