French energy group Total has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US-based gas holding company Sempra Energy to provide a framework for jointly developing LNG export projects in North America. Under the MoU, Total is considering contracting for roughly up to 9 Mt/year of LNG offtake across Sempra Energy’s LNG export development projects across North America, which entails more specifically Cameron LNG Phase 2 and Energia Costa Azul (ECA) LNG. Besides, the agreement stipulates that Total may also acquire an equity interest in ECA LNG.
Cameron LNG is operated by Cameron LNG, a company jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG, Total, Mitsui, Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK). The commissioning of the first liquefaction train of Phase 1 was initiated in November 2018. All three trains are set to be operational in 2019 and the project is set to have a projected export capacity of 12 Mt/year.
Energia Costa Azul is a one-train LNG production project with an expected total export capacity of 2.5 Mt/year, using the existing LNG import terminal’s tanks, loading arms and berth. The second phase is expected to add 12 Mt/year of LNG.