The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) the green light last Monday to begin service on a just-completed 15-mile lateral, which makes up the third stage of the pipeline’s four-stage Phase V expansion project.

The lateral will deliver 180 MMcf/d of natural gas supplies to Tampa Electric Co.’s (Teco) Bayside generating facility in Hillsborough County in southwestern Florida, according to an FGT spokeswoman. The utility’s contract doesn’t require shipments to begin until May 1, 2003, but she noted the pipeline will provide test gas deliveries in the meantime.

FGT placed the second stage of its Phase V expansion into operation last April, expanding it pipeline system by 64 miles and adding 298 MMcf/d of new capacity. The entire $452 million Phase V expansion is on schedule to be completed and in service by next May, the spokeswoman said, and will add a total of 428 MMcf/d of new transportation capacity to meet growing electricity demand in Florida.

The pipeline also received a Commission certificate in June to proceed with its Phase VI expansion, which would expand its system by 33 miles and boost capacity by an additional 121 MMcf/d.

FGT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Citrus Corp., currently operates approximately 4,900 miles of interstate gas transmission facilities that run from South Texas to South Florida. Citrus is owned jointly by Enron Corp. and El Paso Corp.

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