November 15, 2023 [Rigzone]- New projects are set to grow North America’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity to 24.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfpd) by 2027 led by expansion in the USA, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

That is more than double the current capacity of 11.4 Bcfpd. “By the end of 2027, we estimate LNG export capacity will grow by 1.1 Bcf/d in Mexico, 2.1 Bcf/d in Canada, and 9.7 Bcf/d in the United States from a total of 10 new projects across the three countries”, the USA EIA said in a report Monday.

Of the 10 projects expected to be put onstream by 2027, five are under development in the USA, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

Exxon Mobil Corp. and QatarEnergy expect to partially start up the three-train Golden Pass project in Texas by next year, before full operation by 2025. Plaquemines LNG, a two-phase project by Venture Global LNG Inc. in Louisiana, expects to be online 2024, with the second phase planned to come into service 2025. Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Corpus Christi project in Texas, already operating with three trains, expects to startup another facility 2025. TotalEnergies SE and NextDecade Corp. target to commission Rio Grande LNG in Texas 2027. Sempra Energy’s Port Arthur LNG, also in Texas, is planned to start up 2027.

In Canada, Shell PLC and partners target to put LNG Canada, on the west coast, into service 2025. British Columbia’s Woodfibre LNG is planned to be put onstream 2027 by Pacific Energy Corp. Ltd. and Enbridge Inc.

In Mexico, Fast LNG Altamira, a partnership between New Fortress Energy Inc. and state-owned CFE, expects to begin service December 2023 at its offshore unit and 2025 at its two onshore units. Sempra Energy and co-venturers plan to start exporting from Energia Costa Azul LNG, already operating as an import facility, in 2025. Fast LNG Lakach, another New Fortress project in partnership with state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos, is planned for startup 2026.

In an earlier report the EIA said 55 countries are set to have LNG terminals by the end of next year with a combined regasification capacity of 163 Bcfpd.

The projected capacity is an expansion of 16 percent or 23 Bcfpd compared to 2022 with seven nations having their first import terminals, it said basing the forecasts on data by the International Group of LNG Importers and trade press.

In the first seven months of 2023 three countries started importing LNG for the first time: Germany, the Philippines and Vietnam, the EIA noted.

“By the end of next year, we expect Antigua, Australia, Cyprus, and Nicaragua to start importing LNG”, it said in the report August 30. “Several more countries are in advanced stages of developing LNG import capacity.”

The EIA sees Asia as the growth leader in global regasification capacity in 2023 and 2024 accounting for 52 percent or 11.9 Bcfpd. Europe would comprise 30 percent or 8.6 Bcfpd and the rest of the globe 10 percent or 2.3 Bcfpd.

China is expected to host the bulk of the Asian expansion, at 8.5 Bcfpd. “China was the country that had the most LNG imports in 2021, but its LNG imports declined in 2022, mainly because of the COVID-19-related economic slowdown”, the EIA said.

Meanwhile India expects 1.3 Bcf/d of capacity added by the end of this year through the Dhamra LNG and Chhara LNG projects.

In new markets the Philippines and Vietnam, additions of 1.1 Bcfpd in 2023 and 0.1 Bcfpd by the end of 2024 are expected respectively.

In Europe, lower natural gas imports by pipeline from Russia would drive regasification capacity growth by one-third by the end of 2024 compared to 2022, the EIA said.

“Germany began importing LNG this year as operators fast-tracked construction of regasification capacity by using Floating Storage and Regasification Units”, with three terminals put into operation and three more under construction for an expected startup by the end of 2023, it said. The report put Germany’s active and under-development capacity at up to 3.7 Bcfpd.

“Eleven other [European] countries will each add between 0.1 Bcf/d and 0.7 Bcf/d of new or expanded regasification capacity for a combined 4.9 Bcf/d of additions”, it added. “Cyprus is also expected to start importing LNG in 2024.”

In the Americas, Brazil is projected to add 1.8 Bcfpd in regasification capacity this year, while Nicaragua and Antigua and Barbuda will together add 0.1 Bcfpd as first-time LNG importers.

Elsewhere, “Australia, although also one of the world’s three largest LNG exporters, will add 0.3 Bcf/d of regasification capacity through a new offshore terminal on its eastern coast”, the EIA said.

Pro Trial: Access 12,600 Tank Terminal and Production Facilities

12,600 tank storage and production facilities as per the date of this article. Click on the button and register to get instant access to actionable tank storage industry data