Sapphire Gas Solutions (Sapphire), a provider of distributed energy infrastructure, has acquired assets owned by Spectrum LNG (Spectrum), a small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer. The acquisition consists of the Desert Gas LNG Plant in Ehrenberg, Arizona, an operating LNG facility, and a site for future expansion in Stroud, Oklahoma.
The acquisition expands upon the natural gas services Sapphire offers its clients in the Southwest US and Southern California by adding LNG production capabilities. According to Sapphire, the acquisition allows it to have greater control over LNG production and supply while expanding its ability to serve customers across a growing geographic footprint.
“Spectrum gives Sapphire an established LNG production base in the Southwest at a time when demand for reliable, flexible natural gas continues to grow,” said Sam Thigpen, CEO of Sapphire Gas Solutions. “The Desert Gas facility further advances our vertically integrated model allowing Sapphire to provide customers with a more complete and unified service. Bringing production capabilities into Sapphire’s portfolio strengthens our position in the region and gives us a strong foundation for continued growth.”
Located near the California-Arizona border, the Desert Gas LNG Plant has approximately 100,000 gallons of LNG storage capacity and approximately 76,000 gallons per day of operational LNG production capacity. Spectrum has increased its LNG delivery to customers by more than 15% annually since 2021, reflecting continued growth in regional demand for small-scale LNG. The facility receives feed and fuel natural gas from TC Energy’s North Baja pipeline and supplies LNG to municipal, commercial and industrial customers throughout the region.
The Spectrum acquisition is part of Sapphire’s broader growth strategy, following the company’s recent acquisition of EDGE LNG and its strategic partnership earlier this year with Antin Infrastructure Partners (Antin), a private equity firm focused on infrastructure.
“The Southwest US and Southern California are important markets for Sapphire, and Spectrum gives us the ability to serve it with greater scale and flexibility,” said Thigpen. “We see significant opportunity to build on Spectrum’s existing relationships and expand LNG solutions for municipalities, industrial customers and other users looking for dependable alternatives to traditional energy infrastructure. Vertical integration allows Sapphire to control the molecule from production through transportation to the end customer.”
Headquartered in Conroe, Texas, Sapphire is a provider of distributed energy infrastructure and mobile natural gas solutions. The company operates across 30 states and serves more than 120 customers across utility, commercial and industrial, and renewable natural gas sectors.
