Sempra, TotalEnergies up LNG ante at Mexico’s Pacific Coast with project start-up

June 5, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of North America’s energy infrastructure company Sempra, and its joint venture partner, France’s energy giant TotalEnergies, have expanded liquefied natural gas (LNG) output in Mexico by achieving the first LNG production at their project in Ensenada.

Sempra Infrastructure and TotalEnergies have brought the ECA LNG Phase 1 liquefaction project online in Ensenada, with first LNG production now achieved as part of the commissioning process toward commercial operations. This project consists of a single liquefaction train with a nameplate capacity of 3.25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. A second phase is also under development at the same site.

Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure, commented: “This achievement reflects the dedication of the entire ECA LNG Phase 1 team and their unwavering commitment to the highest standards of successful project development.

“The production of first LNG marks a significant milestone on the path to full operations expected in the coming months, enabling the delivery of reliable and secure energy from North America’s Pacific Coast to global markets.”

Located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, the ECA LNG facility is expected to enable the supply of U.S. natural gas to Asia and other Pacific Basin markets via the shortest shipping route, reducing transit times and transportation costs and thus providing customers with greater access to competitively priced U.S. natural gas.

Supported by long-term offtake deals with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co, ECA LNG Phase 1 is expected to reach substantial completion in the summer of 2026, with sales under long-term sale and purchase agreements commencing shortly thereafter, when the facility begins commercial operations.

Sempra Infrastructure describes Phase 1 as a cornerstone of its dual-coast LNG portfolio. With projects along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mexico’s Pacific Coast, the company claims to offer its customers the flexibility and reliability needed to meet growing demand.

The firm is set on expanding its LNG arsenal and existing portfolio of assets, as illustrated last year by its final investment decision to advance the development, construction, and operation of the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project in Texas.

The development encompasses the addition of two natural gas liquefaction trains, one LNG storage tank, and associated facilities with a nameplate capacity of approximately 13 million tonnes per annum.