EIA: Mexico Gas Imports from USA Climb

Mexico’s domestic natural gas consumption is rising faster than domestic production, leading to both record pipeline gas imports from the United States and growth in the country’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the U.S. Energy information Adminstration (EIA) said in a report.

Natural gas trade between Mexico and the United States has been growing; estimated average daily net exports from the United States to Mexico so far in 2013 (January 1-May 6) has been 1.6 Bcf/d, up almost 29% over the same period in 2012, according to EIA

Many potential new natural gas pipeline connections between the two countries are planned. Pemex subsidiary PGPB imports most of the natural gas that enters the country via pipeline.

In addition, private entities and state electric commission CFE also import pipeline gas into Mexico.

In 2006, Mexico began importing LNG shipments from the Gulf of Mexico at its Altamira regasification terminal, and in 2008 began receiving LNG on the Pacific coast at its Costa Azul regasification terminal.

Mexico has considerable natural gas resources, but the development of its unconventional shale gas is proceeding slowly, the EIA added.

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LNG World News Staff, May 13, 2013; Image: EIA