Sempra’s Vista Pacifico LNG and ECA LNG phase 2 projects get export licenses

Sempra Infrastructure, an arm of North American energy infrastructure company Sempra, has received permission from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to re-export US-sourced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Mexico to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries through the company’s plants Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG and Vista Pacifico LNG.

Under the DOE’s permits, Vista Pacifico LNG will re-export up to 200 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of LNG from US-sourced natural gas from the under-development project in Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico to non-FTA countries

Projected to be a mid-scale facility, the Vista Pacifico LNG project will have an export capacity of approximately 3.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa).

Justin Bird — Sempra Infrastructure CEO said: “Advancing new infrastructure investments is critical to supporting the energy needs of America’s allies…

“These export projects are expected to support efforts across the Indo-Pacific region to diversify energy supplies while transitioning away from coal in power production.

“They are also expected to help strengthen U.S. trading relationships, as well as create new jobs and boost the U.S. and Mexico economies.”

Sempra Infrastructure secures export licenses for Vista Pacifico LNG and ECA LNG phase 2 projects. Photo courtesy of Ben Friedl/Wikimedia Commons.

ECA LNG Phase 2 is authorized to re-export up to 636 Bcf/yr of LNG from the US-sourced natural gas from the planned project in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico to non-FTA countries.

Being developed to add around 12Mtpa of LNG export capacity, the ECA LNG Phase 2 is expected to contain two trains and one LNG storage tank.

Both permits are applicable for the period beginning on the date of first commercial re-export through December 2050, according to the company.

The development of ECA LNG Phase 2 and Vista Pacifico LNG projects is subject to required commercial agreements, necessary permits, financing, and final investment decision.

ECA LNG Phase 1, which received non-FTA export authorization in 2019, is currently under construction and is expected to being commercial operations in 2025.

Sempra Infrastructure has partnered with Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to develop the Vista Pacifico LNG project while ECA LNG is a joint venture between Sempra LNG and Infraestructura Energética Nova.