Petrobras locks in 20-year US supply from Sempra’s LNG project in Lone Star State

Brazilian energy firm Petrobras has finalized a 20-year sales and purchase agreement with Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Sempra, for liquefied natural gas supplies. According to Offshore Energy, the state-owned company will receive approximately 0.8 million tonnes per annum from a facility currently under development in Jefferson County, Texas. This deal marks the first time a South American company has joined the developer's customer portfolio.

The fuel will be sourced from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project, which recently reached a final investment decision. This expansion phase includes two liquefaction trains that will bring the total capacity of the site to roughly 26 million tonnes per year. Justin Bird, the chief executive of Sempra Infrastructure, stated that the long-term contract represents a "strategic relationship" with one of the primary energy companies in the global market.

Construction is ongoing for both the initial and secondary phases of the Texas project. While the first phase is expected to begin commercial operations between 2027 and 2028, the second phase, which includes the capacity allocated to Petrobras, is scheduled to start operating in 2030 and 2031. The facility is positioned to utilize U.S. gas basins to serve customers across both the Atlantic and Pacific basins.

For Petrobras, this supply deal coincides with a broader effort to expand its international energy holdings. The company has recently acquired interests in eight offshore blocks in Côte d’Ivoire as part of its geographic diversification strategy. The agreement ensures a consistent supply of American natural gas to support the Brazilian firm's requirements for the next two decades as global energy demand continues to evolve.