FERC last week gave Tennessee Gas Pipeline an extension untilJune 1, 2001 to complete construction of its Eastern ExpressProject 2000 expansion.

In requesting the project delay earlier this month, Tennesseesaid that due to “unanticipated delays in receiving state and localpermits,” it was not able to begin construction on CompressorStation Nos. 261 and 266A until mid-August — more than fourmonths later than it had planned. As a result, “the installation ofthe compressor units and automation set-up cannot take place beforemid-winter when demand is highest,” Tennessee said, adding that itcould “possibly jeopardize” service to existing customers if donethen.

The mostly compression expansion would add 288 MDth/d toTennessee’s system in Zone 6, providing an outlet for natural gastransported over the joint Maritimes & NortheastPipeline/Portland Natural Gas Transportation System (PNGTS)facilities in the New England region. Tennessee’s system would beexpanded from an interconnection with the PNGTS/Maritimes jointsystem at Dracut and Haverhill, MA, to delivery points at Milfordand Meriden, CT, and Mendon, MA.

Separately, the Commission also granted Alliance Pipeline’srequest for a brief delay in its in-service date of “up to andincluding” Nov. 15. Alliance sought the delay because of “moistureand construction debris” that it has encountered, which has forcedit to shut down its system for short periods to “clean outaccumulated debris,” and has prevented it from running its systemat the volume necessary to “adequately test the reliability of thecompressors,” the company said.

Last week, sponsors of the Millennium Pipeline advised FERC of anew start-up date for their project — Nov. 1, 2002.

Susan Parker

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