Tractebel LNG North America’s deliveries of LNG to all U.S. terminals have risen 65% for the first half of 2003, versus the first half of 2002. A total of 40 cargoes carrying about 95.3 Bcf were delivered in the first six months to terminals at Everett, MA, Lake Charles, LA, Elba Island, GA and Penuelas, Puerto Rico, compared to 26 cargoes in 2002.

Although Trinidad is now the main source of LNG for Tractebel’s imports into the U.S., deliveries have also come from various additional sources, including Algeria, Oman and Qatar.

The company’s subsidiary, Tractebel LNG North America, has been making deliveries to the Distrigas LNG facility in Everett — the longest operating LNG facility in the Lower 48 — since late 1971 and, more recently, to the other new or re-activated LNG facilities. Tractebel acquired the Distrigas regasification plant in 2000 and has expanded capacity there from 435 MMcf/d to a new sustainable peak of approximately 700 MMcf/d.

The company recently announced it would meet growth in the U.S. LNG market with two new vessels it has brought under exclusive long-term charters. Both of these vessels entered service in 2003 (see Daily GPI, June 18). It also is developing an LNG import facility in the Bahamas to supply Florida and is active in the Mexican gas market in several locations.

Tractebel, based in Brussels, Belgium, is the energy division of SUEZ, a worldwide industrial and services group in energy — electricity and gas; and environment — water and waste services. The company is involved in the entire LNG process, from liquefaction and shipping to marketing and distribution. Tractebel oversees LNG supply from various countries and owns and operates regasification facilities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the largest LNG suppliers to the United States and the second largest LNG shipper in the Atlantic basin.

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