Sempra Infrastructure begins LNG production at ECA LNG project in Mexico

Sempra Infrastructure announced that its ECA LNG Phase 1 project in Ensenada, Mexico, has produced its first liquefied natural gas. (Image: Sempra Infrastructure)

Sempra Infrastructure announced that its ECA LNG Phase 1 project in Ensenada, Mexico, has produced its first liquefied natural gas, marking a key milestone as the facility moves through commissioning toward commercial operations.

The startup brings the project a step closer to becoming North America’s newest LNG export facility and expands export capacity on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, providing an alternative route for U.S. natural gas supplies destined for Asia and other Pacific Basin markets.

Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure, said the achievement reflects the progress made by the project team and positions the facility for full operations in the coming months.

Located in Baja California, the ECA LNG terminal is strategically positioned to export LNG to Asian markets without requiring vessels to transit the Panama Canal, offering shorter shipping routes and potentially lower transportation costs compared with Gulf Coast facilities.

Phase 1 consists of a single liquefaction train with a nameplate capacity of 3.25 million metric tons per year of LNG. The project is a joint venture between Sempra Infrastructure and TotalEnergies and is backed by long-term sales and purchase agreements with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co.

The company expects the project to reach substantial completion during the summer of 2026, with commercial operations and deliveries under long-term contracts beginning shortly thereafter.

ECA LNG is a central component of Sempra Infrastructure’s strategy to build a dual-coast LNG export portfolio. Alongside its Gulf Coast projects, the facility is intended to provide customers with greater flexibility in accessing global LNG markets while supporting growing demand for natural gas in Asia.

The company is also advancing plans for a second phase of development at the Ensenada site, which would further expand LNG export capacity from Mexico’s Pacific Coast.