U.S. Has No Control over Natural Gas Export Destinations

Reuters - U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said on Wednesday the administration considers geopolitical concerns such as the crisis in Ukraine when reviewing applications for liquefied natural gas exports, but it does not have authority to determine where those exports go.

Some lawmakers have called for the Obama administration to use the nation's natural gas bounty as leverage as it negotiates with Russia over the unrest in Ukraine.

Speaking at IHS CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Moniz also said the oil industry needs to do a better job making the case in support of lifting the decades old ban on U.S. crude oil exports.

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Marguerita Choy)