U.S. Firms Advancing Mexico LNG Export Plans as Asian Buyers Line Up Supply

Momentum is building for the re-export of U.S. natural gas to Asia by way of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, as evidenced by developments over the last week.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) granted Sempra Infrastructure’s request for two LNG export permits for terminal projects planned in Mexico.

Published by DOE Dec. 20, the orders expanded non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) export volumes for Sempra’s Energia Costa Azul (ECA) liquefied natural gas terminal and authorized shipments to non-FTA countries for the proposed Vista Pacifico project through 2050 (No. 20-153-LNG & No. 18-145-LNG).

Sited on the peninsula of Mexico’s Baja California, the ECA LNG project was granted long-term export approval in 2019 and was sanctioned by Sempra in 2020. The 3 million metric ton/year...