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Ii January 2019, DOE/FECM issued the FTA authorization granting authorization to ECA Liquefaction’s affiliate and predecessor-in-interest to export natural gas to Mexico in the total requested volume of 182 Bcf/yr, which includes export by pipeline (21 Bcf/yr) and re-export after liquefaction in Mexico to FTA countries (161 Bcf/yr).
The volume authorized in this order is up to the equivalent of 182 Bcf/yr of natural gas for a 20-year term, beginning on the earlier of the date of first export or seven years from the date the authorization is issued, or January 25, 2026.
Moreover, in March 2019, the DOE/FECM issued the non-FTA authorization, authorizing ECA Liquefaction’s affiliate and predecessor-in-interest to export 161 Bcf/yr of LNG from the project to non-free trade agreement nations.
Under this order, ECA must begin re-export operations using the planned liquefaction facilities no later than seven years from the date of issuance of this order. That deadline is March 26, 2026.
In October 2019, DOE/FECM granted the request to transfer the FTA and Non-FTA authorizations to ECA Liquefaction.
Subsequently, DOE/FECM extended the term of the FTA and non-FTA authorizations to December 31, 2050.
Extension of deadlines
ECA Liquefaction is now seeking for an extension of the deadlines.
Specifically, ECA Liquefaction requests that DOE/FECM eliminate the specific start date for the authorization term under the FTA authorization and set the term to begin on the date of first commercial export of LNG.
Also, ECA Liquefaction requests that the regulator extends the deadline for commercial export of LNG under the non-FTA authorization to September 21, 2026.
ECA Liquefaction submits that “good cause exists to grant the requested extensions and that such extensions are consistent with the public interest,” it told DOE in a filing dated September 19.
The firm requests that the DOE/FECM act on this request within a period not to exceed 90 days after the date hereof, i.e., December 18, 2025.
ECA LNG almost 95 percent complete
Sempra Infrastructure, a unit of Sempra, and France’s TotalEnergies are adding natural gas liquefaction capabilities to the existing ECA LNG regasification terminal, located north of Ensenada in Mexico’s Baja California.
The partners took FID on the development back in 2020, and ECA LNG Phase 1 includes a single-train liquefaction facility with a nameplate capacity of 3.25 mtpa of LNG.
Also, TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co will offtake a combined 2.5 mtpa of LNG from the facility under 20-year deals.
In August 2024, Sempra Infrastructure announced that its ECA LNG export project had experienced labor and productivity challenges.
Sempra said at the time that mechanical completion and first LNG are expected to occur in 2025, with timing of commercial operations under the sales and purchase agreements targeted for spring 2026.
According to the DOE filing, construction of the ECA mid-scale project is 93.49 percent complete, with total project progress (including pre-commissioning and commissioning activities) reaching a cumulative 94.85 percent.
ECA Liquefaction’s main activities are now focused on pre-commissioning and commissioning activities and clearing punch list items in order to achieve pretreatment mechanical completion, mechanical completion for interconnecting systems and common area, including BOG, and liquefaction mechanical completion, it said.
