TotalEnergies Expands U.S. LNG Investments Amid Global Trade Challenges

The French energy giant plans to grow its U.S. LNG operations while navigating trade tensions and advocating for European free-trade guarantees.

• TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne announced plans to expand U.S. LNG operations, including potential expansions at Cameron and Rio Grande facilities.
• Pouyanne dismissed concerns that increased U.S. LNG exports could significantly raise domestic gas prices, citing abundant shale reserves and infrastructure needs.
• Trade tensions, including U.S.-China and potential U.S.-EU tariffs, have created uncertainty for LNG markets, though Pouyanne emphasized the fungibility of U.S. LNG in global trade.
• Europe has become the largest importer of U.S. LNG since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, but Pouyanne warned against over-reliance on U.S. supplies without free-trade guarantees.
• The U.S. is projected to nearly double its LNG export capacity by 2030, with TotalEnergies positioning itself as a key player in the global LNG market.

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