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Sempra Energy (SRE) to Invest $2B in Mexico's ECA LNG Project
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Sempra Energy (SRE - Free Report) recently announced that its subsidiaries, Sempra LNG and IEnova, have approved a fresh investment worth $2 billion for construction of Mexico’s ECA LNG Phase 1 project. This is the only liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project globally to reach a final investment decision to date this year.
In total, Sempra Energy aims to spend almost $2.5 billion at the Energía Costa Azul (ECA) regasification terminal, for now, which includes $2 billion for the mid-scale Phase 1 project and $400 million for new pipeline in Mexico.
ECA LNG Project’s Significance
ECA LNG Phase 1 is one among the first U.S.-Mexico cross-border initiatives following implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It is also expected to be the first LNG-export terminal on the Pacific coast to connect the abundant natural gas supplies of the U.S. Western states, including Texas, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, to markets in Mexico and countries across the Pacific Basin.
With incremental customers adopting cleaner energy, this project will surely attract energy providers’ interest and will be able to serve customers across a vast region. Notably, ECA LNG has already clinched 20-year sales and purchase agreements from Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and an affiliate of Total SE for the purchase of approximately 2.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of LNG from ECA LNG Phase 1.
We expect more such agreements in the near future that in turn will add to Sempra Energy’s profits.
LNG Export Market Opportunities
As stated in its latest short-term outlook by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in October, a decent rise in U.S. natural gas spot price has been observed. This reflects stronger demand for LNG exports as terminals increased liquefaction following hurricane-related disruptions in August and September. Going ahead, EIA expects natural gas spot prices to rise notably because of rising domestic demand for natural gas for space heating, rising U.S. LNG exports, and reduced production.
Consequently, EIA forecasts U.S. LNG exports to be above pre-COVID-19 levels in November 2020, averaging 8.5 Bcf/d, and average 8.4 Bcf/d in 2021, indicating a 31% increase from 2020.
Sempra’s Role in LNG Export Market
We expect Sempra to play an important role in the United States achieving the aforesaid target, with the second and third trains of its Cameron LNG facility set to come into service by the end of 2020. Notably, the company is engaged in advance commercial discussions with potential partners for its LNG development projects. In March 2020, the company finalized an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel Corporation for its proposed Port Arthur LNG liquification project.
In August, Phase 1 of the Cameron LNG export facility in Louisiana reached full commercial operations under Cameron LNG's tolling agreements, which marked the start of full run-rate earnings and cash flows. Sempra Energy's share of full run-rate earnings from the Phase 1 of this project is expected between $400 million and $450 million annually, with no commodity or volumetric exposure.
Sempra LNG continues to develop additional LNG export facilities on the Gulf Coast and Pacific Coast of North America through Cameron LNG expansion, Port Arthur LNG in Texas and ECA LNG expansion in Mexico. No doubt, on being operational, the ECA LNG phase 1 project will also contribute significantly to Sempra’s operational results.
Other LNG Players to Watch
Considering the U.S. LNG export market’s growth opportunities, other LNG players that operate in the nation like Cheniere Energy (CQP - Free Report) and Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) should also benefit.
Notably, Cheniere Energy, the nation’s biggest LNG producer, revealed its plans to complete Train 6 at Sabine Pass in Louisiana in the second half of 2022 and is on track to finish Train 3 at Corpus Christi in Texas in the first half of 2021 (as stated by a Reuters report).
The Elba Liquefaction Company, a joint venture between Kinder Morgan and EIG Global Energy Partners, announced in August, the commercial in-service of Unit 7, the last of 10 Movable Modular Liquefaction units of the approximately $2 billion Elba Liquefaction project. Previously only an LNG import terminal, the Elba Island Liquefaction facility is now also producing LNG for export purposes.
Price Performance & Zacks Rank
Sempra Energy’s stock has lost 10.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 22.5%.
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
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Sempra Energy (SRE) to Invest $2B in Mexico's ECA LNG Project
Sempra Energy (SRE - Free Report) recently announced that its subsidiaries, Sempra LNG and IEnova, have approved a fresh investment worth $2 billion for construction of Mexico’s ECA LNG Phase 1 project. This is the only liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project globally to reach a final investment decision to date this year.
In total, Sempra Energy aims to spend almost $2.5 billion at the Energía Costa Azul (ECA) regasification terminal, for now, which includes $2 billion for the mid-scale Phase 1 project and $400 million for new pipeline in Mexico.
ECA LNG Project’s Significance
ECA LNG Phase 1 is one among the first U.S.-Mexico cross-border initiatives following implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It is also expected to be the first LNG-export terminal on the Pacific coast to connect the abundant natural gas supplies of the U.S. Western states, including Texas, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, to markets in Mexico and countries across the Pacific Basin.
With incremental customers adopting cleaner energy, this project will surely attract energy providers’ interest and will be able to serve customers across a vast region. Notably, ECA LNG has already clinched 20-year sales and purchase agreements from Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and an affiliate of Total SE for the purchase of approximately 2.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of LNG from ECA LNG Phase 1.
We expect more such agreements in the near future that in turn will add to Sempra Energy’s profits.
LNG Export Market Opportunities
As stated in its latest short-term outlook by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in October, a decent rise in U.S. natural gas spot price has been observed. This reflects stronger demand for LNG exports as terminals increased liquefaction following hurricane-related disruptions in August and September. Going ahead, EIA expects natural gas spot prices to rise notably because of rising domestic demand for natural gas for space heating, rising U.S. LNG exports, and reduced production.
Consequently, EIA forecasts U.S. LNG exports to be above pre-COVID-19 levels in November 2020, averaging 8.5 Bcf/d, and average 8.4 Bcf/d in 2021, indicating a 31% increase from 2020.
Sempra’s Role in LNG Export Market
We expect Sempra to play an important role in the United States achieving the aforesaid target, with the second and third trains of its Cameron LNG facility set to come into service by the end of 2020. Notably, the company is engaged in advance commercial discussions with potential partners for its LNG development projects. In March 2020, the company finalized an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel Corporation for its proposed Port Arthur LNG liquification project.
In August, Phase 1 of the Cameron LNG export facility in Louisiana reached full commercial operations under Cameron LNG's tolling agreements, which marked the start of full run-rate earnings and cash flows. Sempra Energy's share of full run-rate earnings from the Phase 1 of this project is expected between $400 million and $450 million annually, with no commodity or volumetric exposure.
Sempra LNG continues to develop additional LNG export facilities on the Gulf Coast and Pacific Coast of North America through Cameron LNG expansion, Port Arthur LNG in Texas and ECA LNG expansion in Mexico. No doubt, on being operational, the ECA LNG phase 1 project will also contribute significantly to Sempra’s operational results.
Other LNG Players to Watch
Considering the U.S. LNG export market’s growth opportunities, other LNG players that operate in the nation like Cheniere Energy (CQP - Free Report) and Kinder Morgan (KMI - Free Report) should also benefit.
Notably, Cheniere Energy, the nation’s biggest LNG producer, revealed its plans to complete Train 6 at Sabine Pass in Louisiana in the second half of 2022 and is on track to finish Train 3 at Corpus Christi in Texas in the first half of 2021 (as stated by a Reuters report).
The Elba Liquefaction Company, a joint venture between Kinder Morgan and EIG Global Energy Partners, announced in August, the commercial in-service of Unit 7, the last of 10 Movable Modular Liquefaction units of the approximately $2 billion Elba Liquefaction project. Previously only an LNG import terminal, the Elba Island Liquefaction facility is now also producing LNG for export purposes.
Price Performance & Zacks Rank
Sempra Energy’s stock has lost 10.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 22.5%.
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>