Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. said Tuesday that its South Texas Expansion Project, designed to deliver natural gas to northern Mexico, was placed into service effective Aug. 1. The project, which is fully subscribed with firm contracts for 15-year initial terms, connects Tennessee’s existing South Texas system in Hidalgo County, TX to Gasoducto del Rio, a new natural gas pipeline in northern Mexico.

The expansion is designed to ultimately deliver an incremental 320,000 Dth/d to the Rio Bravo power generation complex in northern Mexico. Tennessee has completed construction of and placed into service a new 9.3-mile, 30-inch diameter lateral extending from its existing system to the international border and a new compressor station located near Edinburg, TX. The El Paso Corp. subsidiary also has begun construction on a seven-mile, 24-inch diameter pipeline loop along its Donna Line that is expected to be in service in the fourth quarter.

The completion of the new lateral and compressor station will enable Tennessee to deliver initial requirements of 225,000 Dth/d, and completion of the loop line will increase deliverability to the full pipeline capacity of 320,000 Dth/d.

“Tennessee is excited to offer our customers access to Mexico’s growing natural gas market and to provide our customers in Mexico with access to Tennessee’s superior supply position,” said Stephen C. Beasley, president of Tennessee. “This expansion is the latest in a series of infrastructure enhancements allowing expanded service to the rapidly growing Mexican market.”

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