LNG tankers to arrive in Mexico's ports from the U.S. -data (updated)

Altamira Gold

18/02/2021 16:21

(Adds cargo detail, context)
    MEXICO CITY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Two tankers carrying U.S.
liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Mexico are expected to arrive on
Thursday in the country's Altamira and Manzanillo ports,
government officials said and Refinitiv Eikon data showed, part
of emergency purchases by the government to ease interrupted gas
supplies.
    Mexico resorted to LNG supplies to partially offset a gas
deficit for power generation after cold weather froze several
key gaslines crossing the U.S. border. The governor of Texas on
Wednesday banned out-of-state gas supplies through Feb. 21 to
prioritize the state's utilities. 
    The Latin American nation is also ramping up electricity
generation for its northern states by using coal and fuel oil
while asking households and factories to limit consumption to
avoid outages.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2KO1H2 
    Malaysia-flagged LNG tanker Seri Balhaf could be the first
to arrive in Mexico after departing from Freeport, Texas, on
Wednesday. Loaded this week, it is carrying 151,300 cubic meters
of LNG bound for Altamira in the Gulf, the data showed.
    The second cargo, on Marshall Island-flagged tanker Flex
Courageous, loaded 162,850 cubic meters of LNG in early February
at the Sabine Pass terminal, also on the Texas coast.
    It was heading to Asia after passing the Panama Canal when
it was diverted on Feb. 16, the data also showed.
    The tanker is now heading for the Manzanillo port on
Mexico's Pacific coast.   
     At least two more LNG cargoes are expected to reach Mexican
ports from Asia in the coming days, Mexican officials said this
week.
    Mexico generates the bulk of its electricity from natural
gas, which mostly arrives by pipelines from several U.S. states.
    U.S. gas exports to Mexico fell to 4.2 billion cubic feet
per day (bcfd) on Tuesday, the lowest since May 2020, Refinitiv
Eikon data shows. That compares with an average of 5.7 bcfd the
previous month.
    

 (Reporting by Marianna Parraga
Editing by Drazen Jorgic and David Goodman
)
 ((marianna.parraga@thomsonreuters.com; +5255 5282 7159; Reuters
Messaging: marianna.parraga@thomsonreuters.com))