SAN DIEGO, April 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sempra Pipelines & Storage, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), today launched an open season to solicit market interest in capacity on its proposed Cameron Interstate Pipeline project in Louisiana.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage plans to build the pipeline to interconnect Sempra LNG's Cameron LNG receipt terminal and the interstate natural gas pipeline systems in Louisiana. The 35-mile pipeline already has received approval on its design from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The certificate authorizes deliveries of 1.5 million dekatherms per day of natural gas, although the approved design is capable of delivering 1.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) of natural gas. The project permit may be modified to accommodate more capacity, depending on the results of the open season.
"This FERC-certificated project will directly interconnect interstate pipeline capacity in an area where there is substantial liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure under development," said George Liparidis, president of Sempra Pipelines & Storage. "The Cameron pipeline will capitalize on the need for transportation options for LNG shippers."
Liparidis said with its potential interstate and intrastate pipeline interconnections, total interconnection capacity exceeds 5 Bcfd in the area of Transco Compressor Station No. 45. Cameron Interstate Pipeline also will interconnect with Sempra Pipelines & Storage's 17-Bcf Liberty Gas Storage project and its Port Arthur Pipeline, which could extend to Columbia Gulf mainline, crossing with pipelines that represent an additional 5 Bcfd of interconnection capacity.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage expects the Cameron Interstate Pipeline to be operational in mid-2008, the planned in-service date of the Cameron LNG terminal.
In the open season beginning today, prospective shippers have an opportunity to indicate their interest for capacity and delivery points on the pipeline. Non-binding requests for service must be submitted no later than May 2, 2005. Results of the open season will be evaluated and potential shippers contacted regarding project specifics by May 18, 2005.
Potential customers interested in participating in the open season should contact Laurie Fitzmaurice at (619) 696-2698 or visit the Web site at www.cameronpipeline.com.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage develops, operates and owns energy projects. The company currently is involved in joint or solo ventures that provide natural gas and electricity services to more than 2.5 million customers in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. Sempra Pipelines & Storage is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, with more than 13,000 employees, 2004 revenues of $9.4 billion and more than 10 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and South America.
This presentation contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When the company uses words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "would," "should" or similar expressions, or when the company discusses its strategy or plans, the company is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the California Department of Water Resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries; capital markets conditions, inflation rates, interest rates and exchange rates; energy and trading markets, including the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the availability of natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental, and legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the company's control. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site, www.sec.gov and on the company's Web site, www.sempra.com
Sempra Pipelines & Storage is not the same company as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Comission.