Legislation in US Senate to Ease Gas Exports to Non-FTA Countries

A bi-partisan group of four top American Senators has introduced legislation in the Senate to export natural gas, including liquefied natural gas, to countries that do not have free-trade deals with the US. This move increases the prospects of export of shale gas to India.

The legislation 'Expedited LNG for American Allies Act of 2013', specifically mentions NATO allies and Japan for export to natural gas to countries that do not have free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Press Trust of India reported. It also says natural gas could be exported to non-FTA countries if the Secretary of State and Defense Secretary feel so in the national security interest.

India had discussed the matter of shale gas exports with the US last October, where it expressed willing ness to buy the gas in liquefied form through containerised vessels, as it does with LNG from Qatar, the news agency said.

The Act would require the Secretary of Energy to approve exports of natural gas to any other country if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, finds that exports of natural gas to that country would promote the national security interests of the United States.