The United States has granted Texas-based company Sustain Energy LLC authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Morocco and other eligible markets through the end of 2050. The US Department of Energy (DOE) issued the authorization under Order No. 5473 on September 11. This allows Sustain Energy to export LNG equivalent to up to 51.75 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas annually. The authorization covers exports to countries with which the US has free trade agreements that require national treatment for trade in natural gas.
Morocco is among the potential destinations for US LNG exports under this new authorization. The country signed a free trade agreement with the US in 2004, which came into effect in 2006. This agreement makes Morocco the first and only African country to have such an agreement with the US. Sustain Energy applied for the authorization in May 2026 and plans to source LNG from 17 existing small-scale liquefaction and peaking facilities in the US.
The company intends to transport the LNG in approved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers by truck to existing US marine terminals. From there, the containers will be loaded onto ocean-going vessels for export. The authorization will remain in effect from the date of the order until December 31, 2050. For its small-scale exports to non-FTA countries, Sustain Energy must begin commercial LNG export operations within two years of the order’s issuance.
This development comes as Morocco explores opportunities to expand its gas infrastructure and strengthen access to LNG supplies. The country is looking to diversify its supply sources and improve its energy security. The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) recently brought a 16-member delegation of energy-sector representatives from Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan to the US to explore American LNG technologies and gas infrastructure opportunities.
The USTDA hosted a business briefing in Houston on September 24, bringing US companies together with the delegation to discuss upcoming LNG infrastructure plans and potential technology solutions. The agency noted that the three countries are expanding investments in gas infrastructure, including LNG imports, pipeline and storage capacity, and new natural gas applications.
The authorization granted to Sustain Energy is a significant development in the US-Morocco energy relationship. It highlights the growing cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector and Morocco's efforts to enhance its energy security. The deal is expected to have a positive impact on the energy landscape in Morocco and the wider region.
The US-Morocco free trade agreement has been instrumental in facilitating trade between the two countries. The agreement has created new opportunities for US companies to export goods and services to Morocco, including in the energy sector. The LNG export authorization is a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between the US and Morocco.
Key points
- The US has authorized Sustain Energy to export up to 51.75 billion cubic feet of LNG to Morocco and other eligible markets annually through 2050.
- Morocco is the first and only African country to have a free trade agreement with the US, which was signed in 2004 and came into effect in 2006.
- The US Trade and Development Agency recently hosted a business briefing in Houston to discuss LNG infrastructure plans and potential technology solutions with US companies and a delegation from Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan.
