GDF Suez Gas NA is accepting through the end of 2013 nonbinding bids for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply from its proposed advanceLNG Project, “an initiative to provide attractively priced LNG to a wide array of customers in the U.S. Northeast,” the company said Monday.

“While LNG from GDF Suez Gas NA’s facility in Everett, MA, has helped for more than 40 years to assure sufficient supplies of natural gas in New England, particularly during the coldest winter periods, the LNG market has vastly expanded,” the company said.

By aggregating demand from many users, the Houston-based subsidiary of GDF Suez Energy North America said it plans to offer more attractive pricing than would otherwise be achievable by individual consumers building a facility solely to meet their own needs. The advanceLNG Project would serve both new and existing demand, said Frank Katulak, senior vice president of operations.

GDF Suez’s LNG receiving terminal in Everett began operations in 1971 and serves most of the natural gas utilities in New England and key power producers through both pipeline deliveries and an average of 10,000 tanker truck deliveries of LNG each year. The facility has connections with two interstate pipeline systems, as well as a local gas utility’s distribution system.

The difference between the annual price of LNG imports to Everett and the average monthly NGI Algonquin Citygate Bidweek Index has closed over the past decade. In 2003, the Everett price was $4.31/MMBtu, 33.9% less than the Algonquin Citygate price of $6.52/MMBtu. In 2011 the Everett price was $4.66/MMBtu, just 9.9% lower than the Algonquin Citygate price of $5.18/MMBtu.

GDF Suez also has a stake in the development of the export facility at the site of the Cameron LNG receipt terminal in Hackberry, LA. Earlier this year, Sempra Energy, Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co. Ltd. signed 20-year tolling capacity and joint venture agreements to support the development, financing and construction of that LNG export facility (see Daily GPI, May 17).

The tolling agreements subscribed the full nameplate capacity of the three-train, 13.5- million tonne per annum (mtpa) facility, which will provide an export capability of 12 mtpa of LNG, or about 1.7 Bcf/d, and the full regasification capacity of 1.5 Bcf/d. The joint venture agreement calls for affiliates of GDF Suez, Mitsubishi and Mitsui each to acquire 16.6% equity in the existing facilities and the liquefaction project. Last year, Cameron LNG obtained approval from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to export up to 12 mtpa to free trade agreement (FTA) countries; the authorization to export LNG to non-FTA countries is pending review by the DOE.