June 12, 2021 [BN Americas] – New York-based gas-to-power developer New Fortress Energy (NFE) is much closer to turning on operations at its Pichilingue LNG facility near La Paz in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state after receiving three permits from energy regulator CRE for regasification, storage and distribution of liquefied natural gas.

Advances on the nearly 100MW power plant and LNG terminal have been welcomed in recent years by local legislators and activists who have pressured the federal government to help solve the peninsular state’s energy shortfalls through cleaner sources, rather than plants being developed for the zone by federal power company CFE that could use highly polluting fuel oil.

NFE reported in its Q1 results call last month that it saw operations starting at both Pichilingue and its Puerto Sandino site in Nicaragua in Q2, and with the CRE approval, it looks like the Mexican operation is well on course.

The permits, viewable here, detail that New Fortress’ Mexican subsidiary NFE Pacífico Lap is granted permission to store natural gas in a floating unit in the port of Pichilingue, several kilometers north of La Paz.

The second permit clears the way for the company to distribute pressurized natural gas via auto-tanks with approximate capacity of 40.5m3.

The third is the regasification permit that involves two sites in La Paz municipality.

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