Sempra LNG has seen profits increase nearly fivefold in the third quarter.

The outfit’s parent, California utility Sempra Energy, booked $24 million in earnings during the period, up from $5 million a year earlier.

For the first nine months of 2011, profits came in at $75 million. That compares to $25 million in the year-ago period.

Sempra LNG operates the Cameron LNG terminal in the United States and the Energia Costa Azul terminal in Mexico.

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