Mexico’s Gato Negro LNG is scaling up its ambitions for a liquefaction hub on the Pacific Coast, unveiling a revised plan to triple production capacity at its Manzanillo, Colima facility. The company said Tuesday it will boost output targets from 3Mt/y to 9Mt/y, to be developed in three phases.
Phase 1 will deliver 3Mt/y, equivalent to about 0.5Bcf/d of natural gas, followed by a second phase that doubles capacity to 6Mt/y (1.0Bcf/d). The third phase will add another 3Mt/y, bringing the plant to its full 9Mt/y design (1.5Bcf/d).
The expansion is backed by binding Letters of Intent covering LNG offtake, natural gas supply, and access to existing pipelines connecting to the Permian Basin’s Waha pricing hub. Land acquisition in Manzanillo is complete, most permits in Mexico and the United States are in place, and the company is finalizing selection of an Engineering, Procurement, FEED and Construction partner. Mizuho is serving as financial advisor.
With commercial operations slated for 2030, Gato Negro highlights competitive advantages tied to the site: Waha-indexed gas supply, existing connectivity to Mexican pipelines, advantaged shipping costs to Asia, and synergies with the ongoing expansion of the Port of Manzanillo. The facility’s modular design, access to labor, and avoidance of ecologically sensitive zones further bolster its positioning.
The company envisions supplying LNG to Asian and Pacific markets, as well as buyers in the Americas and Mexico’s domestic market.