The project involves the construction of an LNG export terminal on 150ha in the Municipality Of Ahome, Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Construction work started in Q2 2022 and is expected to be completed in Q4 2025.

The objective of the project is to export to nations with which the US has free trade agreements (FTA). It aims to increase natural gas production in the Rockies region.

US-based Sempra Energy and its subsidiary IEnova are planning a new LNG production/export terminal in Mexico to produce 4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG in northwestern Sinaloa.

On November 18, 2020, developers submitted an application to the US Department of Energy (DOE), through the joint venture Vista Pacifico LNG, to export 240 Bcf of natural gas from the US to Mexico and re-export about 4 mtpa.The DOE approved Vista Pacífico’s application in April 2021.The project is looking to export LNG to both FTA and non-FTA countries.Vista Pacifico is expected to start commercial operations by 2025.

The new LNG terminal will be constructed at the port of Topolobampo, Sinaloa. It will be equipped with one 4-mtpa liquefaction unit, one 180,000-cubic-meter tank, an LNG jetty and other related facilities. Additional LNG liquefaction trains are under-consideration. The developers aim to supply LNG to geographically strategic Asian markets, where LNG demand is expected to rise.

In January 2022, Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Sempra Energy calling for the two companies to jointly develop the Vista Pacífico LNG terminal. The agreement would allow CFE to take advantage of excess pipeline capacity on the Texas-to-Mexico network, including the El Encino-Topolobampo Gas Pipeline; some of the surplus Texas gas would be shipped as LNG to the Pichilingue LNG Terminal, just across the Gulf of California, where it would be regasified to supply CFE’s power plants in Baja California Sur.[5][6] Sempra Energy would use the Vista Pacífico terminal to export lower-cost Permian Basin natural gas to high-demand markets in Asia.

In July 2022, Sempra Energy and CFE reported continued progress on the Vista Pacífico project. While plans remained preliminary and non-binding, the two companies were reportedly working together to define the terminal’s configuration and advance engineering and permitting for the project.