Sempra Infrastructure Exports First LNG Cargo from Baja California to Asia

The ECA LNG terminal in Ensenada dispatched its first LNG vessel to Asia. A roughly $2 billion investment, 3.25 Mtpa capacity, and long-term contracts with TotalEnergies and Mitsui.

The Energía Costa Azul (ECA LNG) terminal, operated by Sempra Infrastructure in Ensenada, Baja California, loaded and dispatched its first liquefied natural gas vessel bound for Asian markets on July 8, 2026, Energía a Debate reported. It is the first time a liquefaction plant on Mexico's Pacific coast has exported LNG at commercial scale.

The first cargo departed aboard the vessel Pacific Success, marking the operational launch of Phase 1 of the project, according to Bloomberg. The terminal, whose construction required an investment of approximately 2 billion dollars, uses U.S. natural gas delivered from the Permian Basin, between Texas and New Mexico, via the Rosarito pipeline. French partner TotalEnergies, which holds a 16.6% stake in the joint venture, is responsible for placing the first cargoes in Asia during the start-up phase. The project positions Mexico as an energy bridge between North America and Asian markets.

ECA LNG Phase 1 has a nominal capacity of 3.25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in a single liquefaction train. TotalEnergies, as a partner with a 16.6% stake, acquired 1.7 Mtpa under a 20-year contract, while Japan's Mitsui & Co. committed to an additional 0.8 Mtpa under similar terms. The Ensenada location offers the shortest maritime route for delivering North American gas to Asian and Pacific Basin markets: without crossing the Panama Canal, transit times and logistics costs are significantly reduced compared to exports departing from the Gulf of Mexico. The project is part of Sempra's dual-coast LNG portfolio, which combines this Pacific terminal with its facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The terminal is expected to reach substantial completion in summer 2026, with sales under long-term contracts beginning shortly thereafter. Sempra Infrastructure is also developing a significantly larger second phase at the same Ensenada site, consolidating Mexico's Pacific coast as a new energy export hub toward Asia.

This article was prepared with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.

This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.