Data Insights: Latin America's US$52bn LNG project pipeline

Energy developers in Latin America and the Caribbean have outlined plans to invest more than US$52bn in LNG regasification and liquefaction projects.

Some 18 projects worth US$34.4bn are in the early works stage, while another six totaling US$18bn are under construction, according to BNamericas data. 

Another 12 developments with realized capital expenditure of US$8.1bn are in operation. 

Brazil has the largest number of projects with 14, followed by Mexico (10), Colombia (3) and Argentina (3).

Leading developers include New York-headquartered New Fortress Energy and Brazil's Celba, which have two projects each. 

BNamericas' forecast tool shows that four projects are expected to progress to another stage by the end of this year while three others are seen moving forward in 2025. 

The largest project is earmarked for Guyana, where a consortium comprising Fulcrum LNG, Baker Hughes and McDermott are conducting early design and engineering studies for gas processing facilities, including a liquefaction component. Overall capex has been estimated at US$15bn. 

The second biggest development in capex terms is Mexico Pacific Limited's Saguaro Energía terminal, which is earmarked for Mexico's Sonora state with an expected cost of US$14bn. 

It is followed by YPF's US$10bn Bahia Blanca liquefaction plant in Argentina and the US$3.4bn Amigo LNG export terminal, also planned for Mexico. 

The largest regasification project in BNamericas' database is the US$1.02bn import facility proposed for Brazil's Macaé port, in Rio de Janeiro state. 

Next is Colombia's US$1bn Pacific LNG terminal and Brazil's US$940mn Portocem LNG-to-power project.