Sticking to its outlined schedule, Florida Gas Transmission Co. (FGT) has placed in service the second stage of its four-stage Phase V Expansion project. The second stage of Phase V added approximately 64 miles of underground natural gas pipeline, increased compression by approximately 103,000 hp at new or existing compressor stations, and provided 298 MMcf/d of additional transportation capacity.

FGT said that upon completion of the $452 million Phase V project, which is expected in mid 2003, the company will provide a total of 428 MMcf/d of new gas transportation service to its customers. This expansion is currently supported by long-term firm service agreements for the incremental service, net of turn-back capacity. Phase V is designed primarily to meet growing electricity demand in Florida.

“With the completion of the second stage of FGT’s Phase V expansion, environmentally preferred natural gas is now available for a range of new opportunities throughout the State of Florida,” said Bob Hayes, senior vice president of marketing for FGT. “Working in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies, FGT was able to complete the project on time, delivering natural gas for additional electric generation, local distribution and industrial customers.”

FGT also updated its progress on its Phase VI Expansion, which the company filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in November (see NGI, Nov. 19, 2001). Phase VI will add approximately 121 MMcf/d of capacity, 33 miles of underground pipeline and 18,600 hp of compression at existing compressor station sites. The $105 million project — which is supported by long-term firm agreements — received a preliminary determination from FERC in February (see NGI, March 4).

Construction on Phase VI is expected to begin in the latter part of 2002, with planned phased in-service dates of June 1, 2003 and Nov. 1, 2003. Through Phase V and Phase VI, FGT said it will make available approximately 550 MMcf/d of new capacity to Florida, increasing total capacity to more than 2.2 Bcf/d by fall 2003.

FGT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Citrus Corp., operates an approximately 4,900-mile interstate natural gas transmission system from South Texas to South Florida. Citrus is owned jointly by Enron Corp. and El Paso Corp.

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