IEnova head takes helm in reworked Mexico unit

US energy infrastructure company Sempra appointed Tania Ortiz as president of Sempra Infrastructure in Mexico following a consolidation of the IEnova and Sempra's LNG divisions.

Ortiz, currently director of IEnova, will also serve as president of the newly consolidated company's clean energy group as well as heading up the electricity, gas transport and distribution and fuels storage terminals business in North America, Sempra Infrastructure said today.

The consolidation brings together IEnova's gas and power operations in Mexico with Sempra LNG's operations in Mexico and the US.

The move comes as LNG, fuel storage and other energy projects in Mexico have faced uncertainty over political support, permitting and regulations. Yet it also follows IEnova taking a final investment decision in 2020 to move forward with its 3.25mn t/yr Energia Costa Azul (ECA) LNG export terminal and starting operations at its 2.1mn bl fuel storage terminal in Veracruz, Mexico.

Ortiz has called on the current administration to focus more on clean energy, and talks over a community dispute hindering the start of IEnova's 510mn cf/d Guyamas-El Oro natural gas pipeline are dragging.

Justin Bird, currently director of Sempra LNG, will serve as chief executive of Sempra Infrastructure and the company will be listed on both the Mexican and New York stock exchanges.

The company operates more than 1,500MW of clean energy, 7,000km of natural gas pipelines and 12mn t/yr of natural gas liquefaction across the US and Mexico, including the Energia Costa Azul plant that will be converted to an LNG export project.

By Rebecca Conan