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Epcilon LNG revealed this in a letter dated December 12, seeking an extension of time from the US Department of Energy to commence exports from its authorized export facilities.
The company said it continues to make “substantial progress in advancing the project, but in the past, it has encountered significant and unforeseen delays due to global macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions.”
“All of these delays have been fully resolved now, and Epcilon intends to take FID (final investment decision) in early Q1 2026 for the Amigo LNG export terminal project in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico,” it said.
Design changes
Epsilon said that the reasons behind the delays include the Covid-19 pandemic, persistent geopolitical uncertainty and evolving policy frameworks across key Asian LNG demand markets, as well as the adoption of new FLNG technology and project compact design and regulatory delays in Mexico.
The company noted it has made a strategic shift toward modular, compact FLNG technology, inspired by innovations in floating production.
According to Epsilon, the transition to this new architecture necessitated revisions to permitting applications and environmental assessments, contributing to project delays.
As of December 2025, the new FLNG design has gone through completion of FEED process, independent FEED validation, satisfactory safety assessments, and compliance with regulatory requirements of Mexico and international standards, it said.
For these reasons, Epcilon requests an extension of the deadline to commence exports by an additional 24 months, from December 8, 2027 to December 8, 2029, to preserve its authorization and facilitate the realization of its long-term LNG export project from Mexico.
Epcilon requests that DOE approves the extension application on or before January 22, 2026, aligned with its plan for achieving positive FID within early Q1 2026.
In 2020, Epcilon secured multi-contract authorization from DOE to export domestically produced natural gas from the US to Mexico, and after liquefaction in Mexico, to deliver and consume a portion of the LNG supplies in Mexico and to re-export the LNG supplies to FTA and non-FTA countries.
Epcilon won the authorization in a volume equivalent to 395 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas, or 1.083 Bcf per day (Bcf/d), to both FTA and non-FTA countries on a non-additive basis.
Amigo LNG deals
Amigo LNG awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to Dubai-based Drydocks World for FLNG barges and FSU conversion in August.
Under the EPC contract, Drydocks World will carry out the conversion of floating storage units (FSU) to support LNG export operations, alongside the construction of newbuild FLNG barges incorporating US-based pre-treatment and liquefaction technologies.
Earlier this year, LNG Alliance announced that Amigo LNG signed a long-term sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Macquarie Group.
Under the agreement, Amigo LNG will deliver 0.6 mtpa of LNG to Macquarie’s Commodities and Global Markets business over a 15-year term.
LNG supplies are expected to commence with the start-up of Amigo LNG’s first liquefaction train.
Amigo LNG also signed a 20-year SPA with a unit of Geneva-based trader Gunvor to supply the latter with liquefied natural gas from its planned LNG export plant in Mexico.
Gunvor Singapore will purchase 0.85 mtpa of LNG for 20 years from Amigo LNG’s export terminal in Guaymas.
In April, Amigo LNG signed a 15-year sales and purchase agreement with Oman’s state-owned firm OQ Trading to supply the latter with LNG.
OQ Trading will purchase 0.6 mtpa of LNG on a FOB basis from Amigo LNG’s export terminal.
Amigo LNG also signed a 20-year sales and purchase agreement with Sahara Group.
Under this deal, Shara will purchase 0.6 mtpa of LNG from Amigo LNG’s planned export terminal.