Trump Administration Pushes Forward Approval for Texas Oil Port

By Ari Natter and Jennifer A. Dlouhy

Feb 14, 2025 (Bloomberg) – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced today that the Trump administration is set to approve the Texas GulfLink Deepwater Port, a project proposed by Sentinel Midstream LLC that aims to ship 1 million barrels of oil per day.

The Texas GulfLink Deepwater Port, initially proposed in 2019, has been awaiting final authorization from the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration.

Secretary Duffy emphasized the importance of the project in enabling the efficient movement of energy in and out of the country. The port, located off the coast of Brazoria County, Texas, would accommodate very large crude carriers, allowing for rapid loading of up to 85,000 barrels of crude oil per hour.

However, the project has faced opposition from environmental activists who argue that it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and is incompatible with environmental justice efforts and the fight against climate change.

Despite these objections, the Biden administration previously authorized the Texas GulfLink project, as well as a similar export facility by Enterprise Products Partners LP with a capacity to export 2 million barrels of oil per day.

Transportation Secretary Duffy’s announcement came during the signing of an executive order by President Trump to establish a new council dedicated to steering US energy policy.

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