Saudi Aramco’s ambition to become a major global gas player has taken a step forward after it signed a provision LNG sale-and-purchase agreement (SPA) with Sempra Energy.

The heads of agreement (HOA) anticipates the negotiation and finalization of a definitive 20-year LNG SPA for 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG offtake from Phase 1 of the Port Arthur LNG export project under development.