INEOS and Sempra finalise 1.4 mtpa Port Arthur LNG deal

US LNG company Sempra Infrastructure has concluded a long-term sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with London-based energy player INEOS for the supply of LNG from Phase 1 of its Port Arthur LNG project under development in Jefferson County, Texas.

As per the agreement, INEOS will purchase approximately 1.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG delivered free-on-board from the proposed Phase 1 liquefaction project for a term of 20 years.

Additionally, the companies have signed non-binding heads of agreement (HOA) for INEOS’ potential purchase of an additional 0.2 mtpa from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project under development.

The first deliveries are expected in 2027.

“We are excited to finalise our commercial relationship with INEOS as a valued long-term LNG off-taker from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 development project”, said Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure. “We look forward to advancing this project so we can begin delivering new supplies of US LNG to our European partners, as they pursue more secure energy for their customers.”

“We are pleased to have reached this milestone together with Sempra Infrastructure that will facilitate further access to US LNG supplies”, added David Bucknall, CEO of INEOS Energy. “This agreement is a critical part of our new global LNG supply chain that will enable us to deliver cleaner and reliable energy to our businesses and customers.”

The Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is permitted and expected to include two natural gas liquefaction trains and LNG storage tanks and associated facilities capable of producing, under optimal conditions, up to approximately 13.5 mtpa of LNG.

A similarly sized Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project is also competitively positioned and under active marketing and development, the company said.

Sempra Infrastructure recently finalised an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel Energy for the proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project.

The company also entered into a long-term agreement with ConocoPhillips for the sale and purchase of approximately 5.0 mtpa of LNG from the project.

The company is focused on completing the remaining steps necessary to achieve its goal of making a final investment decision for Phase 1 of the liquefaction project in the first quarter of 2023, with the first cargo deliveries expected in 2027.