San Diego-based Sempra Energy executives remain confident that the Energía Costa Azul (ECA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Mexico’s Baja California will go ahead as planned despite the ongoing delay in receiving an export permit from the Mexican government.

CEO Jeff Martin acknowledged during the second quarter call to discuss results that the permit process had taken longer than expected but it’s by a private sector company, making it “a novel request. Traditionally state-owned enterprises had the domain and responsibility for the export of hydrocarbons. This would be the first permit that they’ve issued” to a private sector company.

He said “the government has largely been shut down because of the pandemic” and that “despite the extenuating...