Adani Ports Secures 10-Year Contract for Argentina's First LNG Export Project, Entering South American Market

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. Secures 10-Year Marine Services Contract in Argentina

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) has won a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, marking the company's entry into South America and solidifying its position in the global energy logistics sector.

The contract was awarded through a global competitive bidding process conducted by Southern Energy S.A. (SESA), a joint venture between Golar LNG and Pan American Energy (PAE). The project, being developed by SESA, will see APSEZ provide end-to-end marine services for the Southern Energy Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project in Argentina.

The agreement will be executed through Meridian Transportes Marítimos S.A., a 51:49 joint venture between APSEZ's subsidiary Adani Harbour International FZCO and Argentina-based Meridian Group. Under the contract, the consortium will provide a range of specialized marine services, including tugboat operations for LNG carriers, offshore logistics support, crew transfer services, and supply operations.

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The project will be supported by four high-specification tugboats, an anchor handling tug supply vessel, and a crew boat. APSEZ stated that the contract is backed by an estimated investment commitment of around $70 million.

Located in the San Matías Gulf in Argentina's Río Negro province, the Southern Energy FLNG project is expected to become the country's first operational LNG export facility. Natural gas will be liquefied aboard the FLNG vessel Hilli Episeyo, with commercial operations scheduled to commence in September 2027.

In its first phase, the facility is projected to produce 2.45 million tonnes (MT) of LNG annually, equivalent to nearly 28 cargoes a year. The project is expected to play a key role in supporting Argentina's ambitions to emerge as a major LNG exporter, with agreements already in place to supply up to 10 MT of LNG annually to India from 2027.

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The win also marks a strategic milestone for APSEZ as it expands beyond traditional port operations into specialized marine and energy logistics services. The company stated that the contract enhances its presence across international energy supply chains and underscores its growing capabilities in supporting large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

APSEZ has a significant presence globally, operating ports and terminals across India and having overseas assets in Australia, Sri Lanka, Israel, and Tanzania. The company handles roughly 27% of India's port cargo volumes and has set a target of reaching one billion tonnes of throughput by 2030.

For APSEZ, the Argentina mandate not only opens the door to South America but also positions the company to benefit from growing energy trade flows between India and Latin America as countries seek to diversify LNG supply sources.