Energia Costa Azul Begins Shipping LNG from Mexico's Pacific Coast

Energia Costa Azul, Mexico's second liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility, has shipped its first cargo. The terminal, located on the Pacific Coast, is supplied with US-sourced natural gas and has been authorized by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to export up to 0.50 billion ft3/d of LNG to countries with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and up to 0.44 billion ft3/d to non-FTA countries.

The facility's Phase 1, which began shipping on July 8, adds 0.4 billion ft3/d of nominal export capacity from a single train, tripling Mexico's LNG export capacity. This represents the first terminal in Mexico and the second in North America to be located on the Pacific Coast, increasing the region's export capacity to 2.2 billion ft3/d.

With its Pacific Coast location, Energia Costa Azul is well-positioned for shorter shipping routes to importers in Asia. Sempra has proposed a second phase of the project, which would add an additional 1.6 billion ft3/d of nominal export capacity from two large-scale trains if constructed.