ECA LNG exports first cargo

Sempra Infrastructure said on July 8 that its ECA LNG Phase 1 project in Ensenada, Baja California, had loaded and shipped its first cargo of liquefied natural gas, the first export from Mexico’s Pacific coast. TotalEnergies said on July 9 that the cargo was headed to Asia from the Energia Costa Azul terminal, which is still under commissioning. The shipment follows first LNG production at the site on June 4, when Sempra said the project had started producing fuel as part of the commissioning process toward commercial operations. ### What exactly moved this week? The first cargo was loaded at the ECA LNG Phase 1 export terminal in Ensenada, Sempra said, calling it a milestone toward full commercial operations. TotalEnergies identified itself as the shipper of that first cargo and said the vessel was bound for Asia. (sempra.com) July 8 was the date of Sempra’s announcement, while TotalEnergies disclosed the shipment on July 9. The companies said the cargo came from Phase 1 of the Energia Costa Azul project on Mexico’s Pacific coast. ### Why is Ensenada different from other North American LNG export points? (sempra.com) Ensenada sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and Sempra says the project is designed to give Asia and other Pacific Basin markets access to U.S. natural gas from North America’s Pacific coast. That route avoids sending LNG through the Panama Canal. (sempra.com) TotalEnergies said the Pacific location also avoids the Strait of Hormuz. The company said that gives the project a direct shipping route to Asian buyers from the west coast of North America. ### How big is Phase 1, and who owns it? ECA LNG Phase 1 is a single-train liquefaction project with expected export capability of about 3 million metric tons a year, according to Sempra’s media materials. (semprainfrastructure.com) Oil & Gas Journal reported the train at 3.25 million tonnes per year. Sempra’s own project page says the facility is being developed by Sempra Infrastructure and TotalEnergies at the existing Energia Costa Azul receipt, storage and regasification terminal north of Ensenada. (rigzone.com) TotalEnergies said it holds a 16.6% stake in ECA LNG Phase 1. During the ramp-up period, the French company said, it will be the sole offtaker of LNG from the project. ### What had to happen before a cargo could leave? June 4 was the earlier commissioning milestone, when Sempra said ECA LNG Phase 1 achieved first LNG production. (semprainfrastructure.com) That step meant the plant had started producing liquefied gas before full commercial operations. Oil & Gas Journal reported that the project had reached mechanical completion in December 2025 and was expected to be fully commissioned in 2026. (rigzone.com) That timeline helps place this week’s cargo as part of the startup sequence rather than the end of it. ### What comes next at the terminal? (sempra.com) Sempra said the first shipment is an important milestone toward full commercial operations at ECA LNG Phase 1. TotalEnergies said the terminal is under commissioning and that it will take all LNG volumes during the ramp-up phase. (ogj.com) Sempra’s project materials say Phase 1 uses existing LNG storage, a marine berth and associated facilities at Energia Costa Azul. The next disclosed milestone is full commercial operation of Phase 1, which Sempra has not dated more precisely in the July 8 announcement. (semprainfrastructure.com) (sempra.com)