In support of the natural gas industry, a four-year interstate agreement was signed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and officials from two neighboring governments.

The memorandum was signed Wednesday at the Arizona State Capitol by Ducey, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinex and Sonora, Mexico Gov. Claudia Pavlovich. 

Continued collaboration and economic development is committed to in the agreement between the three focusing on facilitating “continued economic development” in New Mexico’s clean-burning natural gas.

“In Arizona, we know how to collaborate to achieve shared goals,” Ducey said. “I’m proud to come together with our neighbors in New Mexico and Sonora to support growing international energy demands through this interstate partnership that benefits our entire region.”

The leading importers of liquefied gas are the Asian nations, which receive the natural gas that is piped from New Mexico to Sonora by Arizona facilities. 

“Joint work continues to transform our potential into productive, competitive, profitable realities with high social and economic impact,” Pavlovich said.

Martinez said, “We have worked closely with our partners in Arizona, Sonora, and Asia to open new markets for New Mexico’s natural gas producers and this agreement further promotes economic growth for our state and the region.”

The Sonora ports are much closer to Asia than the U.S. ports located in the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Gas shipped from the Pacific coast wouldn’t require a trip through the Panama Canal.

Existing pipeline networks in Arizona and Sonora could also be used to help transport the fuel.