Showing posts with label El Paso. Show all posts
Showing posts with label El Paso. Show all posts

Monday, March 8, 2004

The Bahamas Trade and Industry Minister, Leslie Miller says that The Government may Very Well Approve All Three Proposals to Lay Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Pipelines between The Bahamas and Florida

Minister Leslie Miller said he is "absolutely" satisfied that all of the environmental concerns raised regarding the proposed LNG projects have been addressed


Bahamas Gov't Closing Pipeline Deal

08/03/2004



Environmentalists fighting three projects to lay liquefied natural gas pipelines between The Bahamas and Florida appear to be losing that battle, with Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller saying Sunday that the government may very well approve all three proposals.


Minister Miller told the Bahama Journal that the AES Corporation continues to lead the race for The Bahamas Government's approval for its project, with a heads of agreement nearly finalized.


Two other companies - Tractebel and El Paso - are also moving close to convincing authorities to give them the go-ahead, the Minister said.


Minister Miller said he is "absolutely" satisfied that all of the environmental concerns raised regarding these projects have been addressed.


He also said that international professionals have already determined that the projects would pose no significant threat to the environment.


But it was recently reported in the Florida press that Tractebel, a Belgian company, was facing fines from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for scraping, crushing or dislodging 29 corals while taking samples of the ocean in preparation for its LNG project.


Minister Miller said Minister of Health and Environment Dr. Marcus Bethel and officials at the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission [BEST] have been working hard to address environmental issues raised in relation to the three proposals before the government.


But BEST Commission Chairman Keod Smith continues to be against approving any LNG project in The Bahamas, saying that the legislative framework is not yet in place.


Minister Miller on Sunday pointed out that the benefits that such projects would bring to the Bahamian people would be significant.


For each project, Minister Miller said, the government would get between $5 million and $10 million for the initial license.


In year one of any of one of the projects, the government would get $10.8 million in various fees; in year five, that figures is expected to double; in year 10, it is expected to increase to $30 million; and by year 15, the government should be getting $40 million to $50 million from a company operating an LNG facility in The Bahamas, Minister Miller said.


Meanwhile, the AES Corporation has secured a partnership with Repsol, Europe's fifth-biggest oil company, to supply liquefied natural gas for what is says will be a $700 million project.


The companies expect to officially announce the deal shortly, according to AES Project Director Aaron Samson.


Minister Miller told the Bahama Journal that the arrangement between AES and Repsol strengthens the LNG proposal.


No company produces the LNG as well as sells it, Minister Miller explained.


Mr. Samson said Friday that while the approval is preventing his company from moving forward, he is satisfied that AES will soon get the necessary permits.


When asked whether the new partnership with Repsol was an indication that AES was facing financial instability, Mr. Samson said that was certainly not the case.


"We're not a producer of LNG," he explained.  "We never purported to be a producer of LNG.  We never pretended that we'd be doing this thing alone."


Mr. Samson said the partnership with Repsol will not impact the proposal before the government in any way and that relevant government authorities have already been informed about this development.


He said Repsol would transport the LNG via ships from Trinidad to the AES site at Ocean Cay, near Bimini.  The LNG would then be turned to the gaseous form and sent through a pipeline to South Florida.


While AES awaits final approval, it continues to carry out "environmental remediation" at Ocean Cay, Mr. Samson said.


The AES pipeline, which would run from Ocean Cay, would deliver natural gas to markets in Florida, as would the other two pipelines being proposed.

Friday, January 23, 2004

AES Corp. Clears Hurdle For LNG Pipeline

By Candia Dames

23/01/2004



The AES Corporation has cleared another important hurdle in its bid to lay a liquefied natural gas pipeline between The Bahamas and southeastern Florida.


 

The U.S. Federal Regulatory Commission on Thursday gave the company final approval for its Ocean Express pipeline project, Reuters News Service reported.


 

Now AES has to secure the go-ahead from the Bahamas Government before it could begin the project.


 

But that could take some time.


 

Two months ago, Keod Smith, Ambassador to the Environment and Chairman of the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission (BEST), urged the government to move "very slowly" before making a decision regarding the three proposals for LNG projects before it.


 

Mr. Smith said that the necessary legislation is not in place to guard against possible environmental impacts.


 

His comments came after the BEST Commission viewed the environmental impact assessment for the proposed AES project.


 

That assessment said that laying a liquefied natural gas pipeline from Ocean Cay, near Bimini, to Florida presents the greatest potential for impact to marine resources, as it will cause temporary disturbance to the ocean floor.


 

But the EIA also said that the $550 million project is not expected to impact critical habitats of any endangered or at risk species.


 

The report said the development of a LNG gas terminal and desalination plant on Ocean Cay would provide economic and social benefits to Bimini and the Bahamian government as well as providing a much needed additional supply of natural gas to South Florida and potable water and natural gas to Bimini.


 

The 54-mile pipeline would transport up to 842 million cubic feet of natural gas a day. The pipeline would connect with the Florida Gas Transmission Co. pipeline system in Broward County, Florida.


 

The Ocean Express pipeline would connect with, and receive natural gas transported by a 40-mile Bahamian-jurisdiction pipeline, which is owned by another AES affiliate, that extends to Ocean Cay.


 

Ocean Cay, a 90-acre man-made industrial island, would be the site of a liquefied natural gas storage and re-gasification facility that would receive LNG from foreign suppliers.


 

The AES pipeline would deliver natural gas to markets in Florida and over the interstate pipeline grid to other parts of the country. AES has said it plans to have the pipeline start delivering gas to customers by November 2005.


 

AES Project Director Aaron Samson has said that The Bahamas is the single best place in the world to bring LNG into southeast Florida and has continuously promised that his company is adhering to the strictest environmental standards.


 

Two other companies, El Paso and Tractebel North America Inc. also propose to establish liquefied natural gas pipelines between The Bahamas and Florida.


 

But Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller has said that it appears that El Paso is out of the race given that it has been reporting financial troubles.