Sempra's Energia Costa Azul LNG terminal set to load inaugural export cargo

Mexico is poised to begin LNG exports from its Pacific coast for the first time, with the LNG tanker Pacific Success heading towards Sempra Infrastructure's Energia Costa Azul (ECA) terminal in Baja California to load the project's inaugural cargo.

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Kpler data show the TotalEnergies-operated Pacific Success is sailing in ballast in the northeast Pacific Ocean and is expected to arrive in the vicinity of the ECA LNG terminal later today.

The project, which consists of a single liquefaction train, is jointly owned by Sempra Infrastructure and TotalEnergies. TotalEnergies holds a 16.6% equity stake and has contracted 1.7 mtpa of LNG from the facility, while Japan's Mitsui holds long-term offtake rights for 0.8 mtpa.

The expected first export comes about a month after the project began producing LNG during commissioning following mechanical completion and the introduction of first gas. Sempra had said it expected substantial completion during the summer, with commercial deliveries under long-term sales agreements to begin shortly afterwards.The startup timeline has been closely watched after Sempra delayed commercial operations from an earlier spring target to allow additional quality-related inspections to be completed.

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