The importance of LNG in the energy mix of Latin American countries points to an unresolved issue that remains to be addressed. We can look to Southeast Asia, where LNG has been processed for over 50 years; specifically, at the first plant built on the island of Brunei, south of Vietnam and between the Philippines and Malaysia.
It was there that, on April 4, 1973, Brunei LNG began operations: a facility with a capacity of 7.2 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) and three tanks with a capacity of 195,000 m³, which recently celebrated 53 years of operation.
In this regard, liquefaction plants in Latin America trace their origins to 1999, when Trinidad and Tobago began operations with the Atlantic LNG plant, a project that started with a 102,000 m³ tank and a capacity of 3 MTPA. Today, the plant requires a greater gas supply to sustain its operations, which opens a window of opportunity for the Dragon field in Venezuela to supply the resource and allow the plant to extend its operations for many more years.
Since then, the history of liquefaction in this region began. The Peru LNG project is a legacy that, since 2010, has filled Latin Americans with pride as the first development on the Pacific coast of the Americas to supply LNG to Asian markets without the need to pass through the Panama Canal.
exico is entering the world of liquefaction. In 2024, through a small terminal using self-elevating platforms—formerly used for drilling operations—LNG made its debut in the Gulf of Mexico. Although this complex does not have its own tanks, it operates alongside the FSU known as “El Pingüino.”
On the other side of the country, on the northern Pacific coast, Sempra’s Energía Costa Azul (ECA) regasification plant is being converted. It will now function as a liquefaction terminal for gas from the U.S. and is set to begin operations later this year.
This is the current situation, but it remains to be seen how the Argentine market and Vaca Muerta—the Southern Cone giant attracting investments exceeding $20 billion—will evolve. This project has also opted for floating facilities, given their advantage in construction time compared to onshore terminals.
All these elements are poised to shine by 2028, with the aim of ushering in the long-awaited golden age of LNG for Latin America.
We must be involved in these developments, which will help more professionals—and the people of our countries—enjoy their benefits.
