Qatargas Liquefied Gas Co. and Duke Energy LNG Sales , a unit ofDuke Energy International, agreed for Duke to buy one cargo ofliquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatargas.

The shipment will come from the Qatargas facilities in RasLaffan Industrial City, about 50 miles north of Doha. The shipmentwill be delivered to Duke Energy’s Trunkline LNG receiving terminalin Lake Charles, LA. The Trunkline facility has a re-gasificationcapacity of 700,000 MMBtu/d and three 95,400 cubic meter storagetanks.

“This deal is significant for Duke Energy because it reflectsDuke’s first purchase of LNG from Qatargas,” said Erik Ludtke, vicepresident of commercial risk management with DEI. “This agreementallows us to continue to expand our spot LNG business, while fullyutilizing Duke Energy’s unique array of LNG, gas trading and riskmanagement capabilities. It’s also the first sale by Qatargas intothe U.S. market. This LNG cargo, in addition to our other supplysources, demonstrates that LNG can be competitively imported intothe U.S. Gulf Coast.” The cargo, equivalent to 2.8 billion Btu, isto arrive at Duke’s facility in January.

A Duke spokesman said its LNG facility receives about onebaseload cargo of LNG a month from Algeria and has bought threespot cargoes, two of which have been delivered in June and August,and one set for delivery in November. He said Duke is activelyseeking additional spot LNG cargoes and is talking up its LakeCharles LNG facility to producers. He noted the U.S. is seen as anattractive LNG market for Asian and European producers as it isquite large and offers price transparency.

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