The number of proposed major pipeline projects on schedule forservice in winter 1999 continues to dwindle, with IndependencePipeline telling FERC yesterday it plans to delay service by a yearuntil November 2000. The pipeline’s sponsors said the $678 millionproject will be delayed because of the lengthy construction timerequired. FERC still has not approved the project. Markets for the400-mile pipeline system also have been slow to develop, butsponsors said they recently executed an additional precedentagreement with Eastern Energy Marketing for 99,000 Dth/d of firmtransportation capacity, bringing subscriptions to nearly 70% ofthe pipeline’s 916 MMcf/d capacity.

The partners in Independence – Coastal Corporation’s ANRPipeline Company, Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line andNational Fuel Gas Company – said the downstream market line, calledMarketLink, which is being built by Transco, also would be delayedby a year. Transco expects to file an application for the projectthis month. The upstream line, SupplyLink, which is being built byANR to provide access to new and existing Canadian supply enteringthe U.S. marketplace should be in service in November 1999 becauserequired facilities are less extensive, ANR said.

Independence’s delay follows similar announcements regarding the2.3 Bcf/d Alliance Pipeline and the 60 MMcf/d Phase I portion ofMaritimes and Northeast Pipeline. Last month, Alliance announced itprobably would not be in service until winter 2000 because of theregulatory battle that shows no signs of letting up at Canada’sNational Energy Board. Maritimes told FERC last week its onlysubscriber, and affiliated marketer, on the Phase I project decidedto defer its transportation agreement by a year because it had nomarkets to serve.

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