The Salina Cruz LNG JV will develop, construct, and operate an LNG bunkering and
transshipment terminal.
At full build-out, the facility is anticipated to produce 600,000 gallons of LNG per day, or roughly 0.34 million metric tonnes per annum, according to a joint statement.
The partners anticipate operations to start in mid-to-late 2027.
With “speed-to-market in mind”, the project is being designed to include modular, land-based liquefaction equipment and an optimized storage solution.
Also, the project will deploy a floating storage unit (FSU) with an estimated capacity ranging from 50,000 – 140,000 cbm to be moored inside the newly expanded breakwater in the Port of Salina Cruz, the two firms said.
LNG as fuel, power markets
Salina Cruz will use domestic Mexican gas supply from the Veracruz gulf region to access new “high-value” markets along the Pacific Coast.
These markets include LNG marine fuel deliveries at the Pacific entry of the Panama Canal and into Southern California (the Ports of Long Beach & Los Angeles), as well as sales into Central American power markets, and trucked volumes in the local region of southwestern Mexico.
Salina Cruz customers can expect to “benefit from competitively priced, Henry Hub-linked LNG sales,” the duo said.
FID in 2025?
GFI and Pilot plan to start front-end engineering and design development for the
project this quarter.
The partners anticipate a 12-18 month development and permitting timeline and plan to announce a final investment decision (FID) in the second half of 2025.
GFI is a Houston-based energy company and has over 20 years of continuous commodity sales of natural gas, refined products, and electricity into Mexico, the statement said.
On the other hand, Jonathan Cook and Shaun Davison founded Pilot LNG in mid-2019. Prior to that, Cook co-founded US FSRU player Excelerate Energy and also led the Norwegian shipping firm Flex LNG.
Pilot LNG was previously working to develop the $500 million Galveston LNG bunkering project with floating liquefaction technology developed by China’s Wison.
Last year, Pilot LNG joined forces with Libra Group’s maritime unit Seapath to build what they say is the first dedicated LNG bunkering facility in the US Gulf Coast.
