Mexico Pacific Limited LLC (MPL) FE Dkt. No. 18-70-LNG

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on June 18, 2018, by Mexico Pacific Limited LLC (MPL), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced natural gas to Mexico, and to convert such natural gas to liquefied natural gas (LNG) in an amount up to the equivalent of 620.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas.  MPL seeks to export this LNG from the proposed Mexico Pacific Limited Facility (MPL Facility), to be constructed in the state of Sonora, Mexico.  MPL requests authorization to export the LNG to (1) any country with which the United States currently has, or in the future may enter into, a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas (FTA countries); and (2) any country with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries).  MPL seeks to export this natural gas and subsequently, LNG, on its own behalf and as agent for other entities who hold title to the natural gas or LNG at the time of export.  MPL requests the authorization for a 20-year term to commence on the earlier of the date of first export from the MPL Facility, or five years from the issuance of the requested authorization.

DOE will consider one or more of the following studies examining the cumulative impacts of exporting domestically produced LNG:

• _{Effect of Increased Levels of Liquefied Natural Gas on U.S. Energy Markets, conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration upon DOE’s request (2014 EIA LNG Export Study);}

• The Macroeconomic Impact of Increasing U.S. LNG Exports, conducted jointly by the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Oxford Economics, on behalf of DOE (2015 LNG Export Study); and
• Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting on behalf of DOE (2018 LNG Export Study)

Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental documents: 

• Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014) and
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014).