WASHINGTON: US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Wednesday the government’s pause on approvals of exports of liquefied natural gas will not affect relationships with allies that import the fuel.

“The bottom line is this is not going to impact any relationship that we have allies or their ability to access energy,” Granholm said at an event at the National Press Club.

She would not offer a timeline on the pause, which President Joe Biden announced in January, other than it would be “months long”.

On Friday, Amos Hochstein, a senior Biden adviser, told al Arabiya English the pause could last about 10 to 14 months. That could mean the freeze will last beyond the Nov. 5 election.