US LNG firm Sempra Infrastructure, a unit of Sempra, has received approval to send US natural gas via pipelines to its two liquefaction terminals in Mexico and ship it to non-free trade agreement nations.
Sempra Infrastructure’s Energia Costa Azul (ECA LNG) and Vista Pacifico received authorization from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to re-export US-sourced natural gas from Mexico to non-(FTA) nations, the firm said in a statement.
Under the export permits granted by DOE, Vista Pacifico LNG is authorized to re-export up to 200 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of LNG from the project under development in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico to any country with which the US does not have an FTA requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.
Vista Pacifico LNG
Vista Pacifico LNG is projected to be a mid-scale facility with about 3.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of export capacity, according to Sempra Infastructure.
As previously reported by LNG Prime, Sempra Infrastructure is advancing the development of Vista Pacifico LNG in collaboration with Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
The facility would connect to two existing pipelines, Sempra Infrastructure previously said.
ECA LNG
The DOE also increased the authorized export volumes of ECA LNG Phase 2, permitting it to re-export up to 636 Bcf/yr of LNG from US-sourced natural gas from the proposed project in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico to non-FTA nations, Sempra Infrastructure said.
Also, both permits are applicable for the period beginning on the date of first commercial re-export through December 2050, it said.
The proposed ECA LNG Phase 2 is expected to be comprised of two trains and one LNG storage tank and produce about 12 Mtpa of export capacity.
ECA LNG Phase 1 received non-FTA export authorization in 2019 and is currently under construction with commercial operations expected in 2025, Sempra Infrastructure said.
Development of ECA LNG Phase 2 and Vista Pacifico LNG is contingent upon completing the required commercial agreements, securing all necessary permits, obtaining financing, and reaching a final investment decision, among other factors, the firm added.