Former Cheniere Energy executive Doug Shanda is now heading a Texas-based company hoping to build a liquefied natural gas export facility along Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Kallanish Energy learns.
Mexico Pacific Ltd. announced this week Shanda has been named president and CEO. Shanda assumes command of the company from Josh Loftus, a former GE Oil & Gas executive who had served as president for roughly 21 months.
Mexico Pacific’s plans are to build a natural gas liquefaction plant and export terminal in Puerto Libertad, Sonora. The proposed facility would receive natural gas from the Waha Hub in the Permian Basin of West Texas via an existing cross-border pipeline.
Primarily focused on the Asian market, shipments from the proposed facility wouldn’t need to pass through the Panama Canal, saving shipping time and costs.
“Doug brings extensive LNG project development, construction and operations experience from senior leadership positions at some of the most prestigious North and South American LNG companies,” Mexico Pacific board chairman Page Maxson said, in a statement.
“His depth of experience and proven leadership capabilities will further accelerate MPL’s trajectory through FID (final investment decision) into the construction and commencement of operations.”
Maxson himself has only been with Mexico Pacific for three months. He came to the company following over 25 years with ConocoPhillips, leading oil and gas assets worldwide.
From 2010 to 2017, Maxson served as CEO of the $24.5 billion Australia Pacific LNG project, where he was responsible for everything from initial concept through operations, including permitting, engineering design, marketing, project financing, construction, commissioning and operations.
Shanda left Cheniere last week, after working for the company for more than seven years. He was heavily involved in helping to develop the company’s Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana, and the Corpus Christi LNG export terminal in Texas.
Originally proposed in 2017, and financially supported by the New York private equity firm AVAIO Capital, Mexico Pacific Ltd. has spent the last three years obtaining permits in the U.S. and Mexico, while trying to secure customers.
