According to two informed sources, Trump's transition team is developing a broad energy plan to be launched in the first few days after he takes office. The plan will approve new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits and increase oil drilling on U.S. coastal and federal lands.

This energy plan largely reflects the promises Trump made during the campaign, but the timetable for its early release ensures that oil and gas production will be a cornerstone of Trump's early agenda alongside immigration.

Sources say that Trump, a Republican, also plans to repeal some key climate legislation and regulations enacted by his Democratic predecessor, such as tax credits for electric vehicles and new clean power plant standards aimed at phasing out coal and natural gas gradually.

Sources point out that an early priority is to revoke the Biden administration's pause on new liquefied natural gas export permits and to quickly approve pending permits. Trump is also expected to seek expedited drilling permits on federal lands and swiftly restart the five-year drilling plan off the U.S. coast to introduce more offshore lease offerings for bidding.

Trump will symbolically seek approval for the Keystone XL oil pipeline project, a controversial topic in U.S. energy policy that spans the United States and Canada. On his first day in office, Biden signed an executive order canceling the construction permit for this project. Restarting this project will be challenging, as any company looking to invest billions in transporting Canadian oil to the U.S. will need to start over due to land easements being returned to landowners.

Karoline Leavitt, spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, said in a statement: "The American people can expect Trump to use his executive power on day one to fulfill his promises made during the campaign."

Many aspects of Trump's energy plan will require time to pass through Congress or the national regulatory system. He has pledged to declare an energy emergency on his first day in office, which may test whether he can bypass these obstacles and implement some reforms on an accelerated timetable.

Trump will also call on Congress to provide new funding so that he can replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR was established as an emergency crude oil supply, depleted during the Biden administration to help manage the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the oil price surge caused by high inflation during the pandemic. Replenishing the reserve will boost short-term oil demand and encourage US oil production.

Trump is also expected to pressure the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA is an energy regulatory institution based in Paris, providing energy policy advice to industrialized countries. Republicans criticize the IEA for focusing on emission reduction policies. Trump's advisors urge him to stop funding unless the IEA takes a more pro-oil stance.

Dan Eberhart, CEO of the oilfield service company Canary, said: "I have personally pressured Trump and his team to demand that the IEA return to its core mission of energy security and stop trying to greenwash (referring to false eco-friendly propaganda)."

Trump "plans to take strong action in the LNG sector."

Biden has suspended new LNG export permits until January next year to study the environmental impact, as a move in the election year to seek support from the party's environmentalists. Without export permits, developers cannot continue to develop multi-year construction plans for new projects. Delayed projects include Venture Global's CP2, Commonwealth LNG, and Energy Transfer's Lake Charles complex, all located in Louisiana.

The US is the world's largest natural gas producer and became the largest LNG exporter in 2022, as Europe sought to rely on the US to reduce its dependence on Russia's vast energy supply after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. exploded.

Sources say the Biden administration has promised to release an environmental impact study report before Trump takes office on January 20th next year, but this will not affect the incoming new government.

One source said: "The LNG issue is a difficult problem to resolve, and he plans to take tough action on this issue."

Federal records show that the USA has five LNG export projects that have received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but are still awaiting approval from the Department of Energy.

Biden's suspension of new LNG export permits has also led to the suspension of necessary environmental reviews, and the five pending approvals from the Department of Energy may still require some environmental reviews to withstand legal scrutiny.

Drilling more on coastal and federal lands

Trump will seek to accelerate drilling on coastal and federal lands in the USA.

According to federal data, in the first three years of the Biden administration, the average time to complete drilling permits on federal and Native American lands was 258 days, longer than the 172 days during Trump's presidency.

Sources say that Trump is expected to expedite approval of pending permits, hold more sales events, and offer land leases more likely to transport oil.

Federal records show that despite delays in permit approvals, the Biden Interior Department has approved more onshore oil drilling permits on average than in Trump's first term.

According to federal data, in 2023, oil production on federal land and water reached a historic high, while natural gas production reached its highest level since 2016.

Federal land and offshore drilling activities account for approximately one-fourth of the US crude oil production and 12% of natural gas production.