The U.S. government is looking to invest in energy projects in Africa, Latin America, and Asia that could pave the way for increased U.S. energy exports, Thomas Hardy, the acting director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), said on Thursday.

“Our approach is looking at all energy projects and not being hamstrung by only renewables as happened in the last four years,” Hardy told Reuters on the sidelines of CERAWeek.

The USTDA has been meeting with energy companies and government representatives in Latin America, Africa and the Indo-Pacific regions over the last week to find investment opportunities that can promote U.S. business and create jobs in America, he said.

Hardy said the USTDA is subject to the agency pause and review by the Department of Government Efficiency but would be in a position to pursue projects that are in line with President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda as soon as the freeze is lifted.

The U.S. is the world’s largest oil and gas producer and top exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Source: Reuters