Saltville Gas Storage Co. LLC, a joint venture of NUI Corp. and Duke Energy Gas Transmission, is holding a 30-day open season to test market interest in about 1 Bcf of firm gas storage capacity that is being developed at the companies’ new storage facility in Saltville, VA.

Saltville began service last fall and is expected to be expanded by 1 Bcf per year to a total of 6 Bcf in the five-year first phase of development. Half of the current 1 Bcf capacity addition this year will be available Aug. 1 with the remaining 0.5 Bcf of capacity available Aug. 1, 2005. The facility is managed by Virginia Gas Pipeline, a subsidiary of NUI.

Saltville is the only salt cavern storage field in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is connected to East Tennessee Natural Gas’ interstate pipeline system and its recently-completed Patriot extension. Through ETNG, Saltville also has access to Texas Eastern Transmission’s pipeline system, as well as the Columbia Gulf, Tennessee Gas Pipeline and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line systems.

The open season begins on March 31 and end on April 30. Additional information on the open season, including bidding parameters, is available at www.latec.com/virginiastorage.

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