San Diego-based Sempra Energy has reached a final investment decision (FID) for the development, construction and operation of a natural gas liquefaction plant in Mexico’s Baja California.

ECA map

Energía Costa Azul (ECA) is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) joint venture between subsidiaries Sempra LNG and Infraestructura Energética Nova (IEnova). It is the first LNG export project in Mexico to be sanctioned and the first project worldwide to reach FID in 2020.

“This project would be the first LNG export facility on the Pacific Coast of North America that can help connect abundant natural gas supplies from Texas and the Western U.S. directly to markets in Mexico and countries across the Pacific Basin,” said CEO Justin Bird.

Target markets for the exports are East Asian nations....