GE Energy Financial Services plans to invest $150 million to acquire a one-third interest in the Gulf LNG Clean Energy Project, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal under construction by El Paso Corp. in Mississippi. Gulf LNG, which is adjacent to the Pascagoula Bayou Casotte Ship Channel, is scheduled for completion in 2011 at a cost of around $1.1 billion (see NGI, Nov. 9, 2009). The facility, which is fully contracted, is to have 6.6 Bcf of storage and be capable of 1.3 Bcf/d sendout. El Paso owns a half stake in the facility, and a subsidiary is managing construction and would be the operator (see NGI, Feb. 11, 2008). The GE business unit would acquire Houston-based Crest Group’s 30% interest. Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, also has a 20% interest in the project.
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Industry Briefs
Backers of the NorthernStar Natural Gas Corp.’s proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal have joined a business-labor coalition lobbying the Oregon legislature for legislation to streamline permitting of energy and transportation projects. NorthernStar’s LNG project threw its support behind last Wednesday’s rally staged at the Oregon Capitol in Salem by Energy Action Northwest (see Daily GPI, Feb. 11). In particular, Bradwood LNG’s backers are supporting SB 1020, which they contend is needed to assure Oregon of reliable energy supplies. “Across Oregon, there are proposals to build new roads, water and sewer lines, transmission lines, rail lines and pipelines,” a Bradwood Landing spokesperson said. “Collectively, these projects would invest billions of dollars in Oregon, creating thousands of family wage jobs and putting people to work for years. Many of these projects will be funded without any taxpayer dollars.” A number of state legislators spoke in favor of the measure during the rally.
Industry Briefs
Backers of the NorthernStar Natural Gas Corp.’s proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal have joined a business-labor coalition lobbying the Oregon legislature for legislation to streamline permitting of energy and transportation projects. NorthernStar’s LNG project threw its support behind last Wednesday’s rally staged at the Oregon Capitol in Salem by Energy Action Northwest (see Daily GPI, Feb. 11). In particular, Bradwood LNG’s backers are supporting SB 1020, which they contend is needed to assure Oregon of reliable energy supplies. “Across Oregon, there are proposals to build new roads, water and sewer lines, transmission lines, rail lines and pipelines,” a Bradwood Landing spokesperson said. “Collectively, these projects would invest billions of dollars in Oregon, creating thousands of family wage jobs and putting people to work for years. Many of these projects will be funded without any taxpayer dollars.” A number of state legislators spoke in favor of the measure during the rally.
El Paso Exec: Ruby, Shale Make West LNG Doubtful
With the promise of a new pipeline from the Rockies to the West Coast and ever-greater output from gas shale plays, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the U.S. Pacific Coast is essentially dead, according to an El Paso Natural Gas executive who spoke at an energy conference in San Francisco last week.
El Paso Exec: Ruby Pipeline, Shale Make West Coast LNG Doubtful
With the promise of a new pipeline from the Rockies to the West Coast and ever-greater output from gas shale plays, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the U.S. Pacific Coast is essentially dead, according to an El Paso Natural Gas executive who spoke Monday at an energy conference in San Francisco.
Industry Briefs
The Astoria, OR, port commission failed to give Oregon LNG the 30-year state land lease it needs to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal on a 96-acre tract on the Skipanon Peninsula near the mouth of the Columbia River. Because of pending litigation and an investigation, company executives said they could not comment on the port action. Oregon LNG backers contend they already had a commitment for a 30-year lease with the Oregon Department of State Lands, but the five-member Astoria Port Commission, following four hours of discussion, voted unanimously to extend the existing lease by only two years. Oregon LNG filed an application last October with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, noting that it was staying on schedule and the extensive application demonstrated the project, originally conceived by a Calpine Corp. affiliate, was still feasible and should be approved (see Daily GPI, April 28). FERC formally accepted the application, and the project already has completed local land-use approvals, according to Oregon LNG CEO Peter Hansen, who helped launch the project at Calpine. The commissioners faced an Aug. 31 deadline to act on what they said was a “pass-through lease” of state land for Oregon LNG. The port leased the land from the state and in turn subleased it to the LNG developer. The five-year terms expire this year.
Industry Briefs
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline has begun receipt and redelivery of gas from the Canaport liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Saint John, NB, the pipeline said. In January Maritimes placed into service its Phase IV Expansion to facilitate delivery of gas from Canaport to markets in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Atlantic Canada (see Daily GPI, Jan. 6). The project doubled Maritimes’ U.S. year-round firm mainline capacity from approximately 400 MMcf/d to approximately 800 MMcf/d. “The addition of imported LNG realizes another milestone in the history of Maritimes and our efforts to add incremental supplies from diverse sources to ensure our markets have access to ample natural gas,” said Maritimes President Tina Faraca. The Phase IV Expansion has allowed Maritimes to reduce its mainline recourse rates. The pipeline has filed a rate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting an effective date of Aug. 1 for the reduction to its recourse rate. Maritimes is owned by affiliates of Spectra Energy (77.53%), Emera Inc. (12.92%) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (9.55%).
Industry Brief
Due to scheduled maintenance and work associated with the Elba III Expansion project, Southern LNG said its Elba Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal will be unable to accept ship cargoes for unloading through Nov. 23. Additionally, there will be no natural gas send-out Thursday (Nov. 13) through Monday (Nov. 17). From Tuesday (Nov. 18) through Sunday (Nov. 23) send-out will be limited to 675 MMcf/d due to project tie-ins for the Elba III Expansion. Following completion of the work, the North Dock will remain out of service until February.
FERC Takes Third Oregon LNG Proposal
FERC last Monday accepted a third application for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Oregon, the proposed Oregon LNG project near the mouth of the Columbia River on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, OR. Project backers are proposing a $1.3 billion facility, which has cleared most of its local permitting hurdles.
FERC Accepts Third Oregon LNG Application
FERC Monday accepted a third application for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Oregon, the proposed Oregon LNG project near the mouth of the Columbia River on the Skipanon Peninsula in Warrenton, OR. Project backers are proposing a $1.3 billion facility, which has cleared most of its local permitting hurdles.
