US energy company New Fortress Energy (NFE) has secured export permit authorisation from Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER) for its Altamira fast liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The SENER permit allows NFE to export up to 7.8 million metric tonnes of LNG through April 2028. This is expected to provide capacity sufficient to support fast LNG facility through the permitted period.

New Fortress noted that the construction of the first 1.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) fast LNG unit is more than 90% complete.

Earlier, NFE secured the US Department of Energy’s authorisation to export US-sourced LNG to Mexico and other countries with free trade agreements.

New Fortress Energy chairman and CEO Wes Edens said: “This permit is the final piece to the puzzle for launching our first fast LNG in Altamira.

“Obtaining this authorisation not only paves the way for operations to commence at our new LNG hub in the third quarter of this year, but it also advances our efforts to expand access to cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy to customers around the world.”

NFE has collaborated with Mexican state-owned electric utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) for the development of a new fast LNG hub off the coast of Altamira.

Pursuant to the agreements, NFE agreed to deploy several fast LNG units, each with 1.4mtpa capacity, using CFE’s existing pipeline transportation capacity on TC Energy’s Sur de Texas-Tuxpan Pipeline. This will deliver feed gas volumes to NFE.

In a press statement, NFE said: “With operations slated to begin in the third quarter of 2023, NFE is on track to establish its new LNG hub, furthering its efforts to provide affordable and reliable energy solutions to customers worldwide.”