Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) have secured a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. The deal marks the company’s entry into South America and further strengthens its international marine services business. It also highlights the growing energy partnership between India and Argentina.

The contract has been awarded to APSEZ’s step-down subsidiary, The Adani Harbour International, FZCO. The company will execute the project through a consortium formed with Argentina-based Meridian Group. The consortium won the contract after a global competitive tender process conducted by Southern Energy SA (SESA).

The Adani Group-Meridian consortium will provide marine services for the Southern Energy FLNG project. The project is backed by an estimated investment commitment of $70 million. The agreement represents a significant milestone for APSEZ as it continues to expand its presence in international markets.

The Southern Energy FLNG project is expected to become Argentina’s first operational LNG export project. In the initial phase, the facility is projected to produce 2.45 million tonnes (MT) of LNG every year. This production level is equivalent to around 28 LNG cargoes annually.

Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO of APSEZ, said, "This project reflects our growing capability to support large-scale energy infrastructure projects across geographies. With marine operations in 12 countries and a growing fleet of marine assets supporting ports, LNG terminals, national oil companies, refineries and offshore facilities, we bring deep operational expertise to complex maritime environments."

He further added, "By combining these capabilities with strong local partnerships, we are helping create reliable maritime ecosystems that enable new energy trade corridors and strengthen long-term supply resilience."

Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium will deliver a complete range of marine services for the project. These services will include tugboat operations for LNG carriers, offshore logistics support, supply services and crew transfer operations. The marine support infrastructure is expected to ensure the smooth functioning of LNG export activities at the facility.

To support these operations, the project will deploy a fleet consisting of four high-specification tugboats, one anchor handling tug supply vessel and one crew boat. These vessels will play a crucial role in handling LNG carriers and maintaining offshore operations.

Argentina is increasingly emerging as a major LNG supplier in the global energy market. The country has already entered into agreements that could support LNG exports of up to 10 million tonnes annually to India beginning in 2027. This development is expected to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries and create new opportunities for trade.

The Southern Energy FLNG project is expected to contribute significantly to these plans. It will help connect Argentina’s growing LNG production capacity with key demand centres around the world. The project is also expected to support the development of new energy trade routes and improve the reliability of global energy supplies.

For APSEZ, the contract represents another important step in expanding its international marine services portfolio. The company currently operates marine services in 12 countries and supports a wide range of maritime and energy-related infrastructure projects. With its entry into South America through this project, APSEZ is further strengthening its position as a global player in the marine and logistics sector.

The agreement not only expands Adani Ports’ international footprint but also reinforces the increasing economic and energy ties between India and Argentina. As LNG demand continues to grow globally, projects such as Southern Energy FLNG are expected to play a key role in meeting future energy requirements and supporting international trade flows.