Midcoast Energy Resources said Midcoast del Bajio has beenawarded a permit by the Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission tobuild a 59-mile, 16-inch diameter gas pipeline in the Bajio regionin the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico. The line will runfrom an interconnection with a Pemex near Valtierrilla to Leon andwill provide gas transportation services to parts of central Mexicothat currently do not have access to gas. Midcoast del Bajio willhold an open season from July 16 to July 26 for firm transportationcapacity on the proposed pipeline. And a series of informationalmeetings will be held jointly with Pemex to answer questions frompotential transportation customers and other interested parties.The meetings will be held on June 24 in Irapuato, Guanajuato at theHotel Parador del Rio and on June 25 in Leon, Guanajuato at theFiesta Americana Hotel.

Chesapeake Utilities Corp. said it is expanding Central FloridaGas’ natural gas distribution system into Citrus County, FL,sixty-five miles north of Tampa. The first five miles of the newsystem were put into service this week. “The interest in naturalgas as an energy alternative has been very strong,” saidChesapeake’s Tom Geoffroy. In 1992, Florida Gas Transmissionconstructed a natural gas line through Citrus County. Seven yearslater, Central Florida Gas successfully completed the first phaseof the distribution link to Florida Gas’ mainline. By the firstquarter of next year, the backbone system linking Crystal River,Homossassa Springs, Lecanto and Inverness is targeted forcompletion. About 35 miles of new pipe will be added.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.