In response to an inquiry from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), New Fortress Energy Inc. (NFE) officials said Thursday the first phase of the Altamira LNG project in Mexico remains on track to be an offshore terminal.

In a letter to New York-based NFE sent at the end of October, DOE officials warned the company would have to amend its export permit applications if the design for Altamira had changed in scope.  NFE, in a filing, stated that it planned to operate two floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) units “exclusively” offshore Mexico’s east coast.

The first phase of Altamira consists of two 1.4 million metric tons/year (mmty) capacity trains capable of producing around 200 MMcf/d of LNG. In May, the company unveiled a tentative agreement with Mexican state power...