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Gold/Mining/Energy : LNG -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dennis Roth who wrote (22)	1/15/2004 5:08:40 PM
From: Dennis Roth	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 919

ExxonMobil Proposes LNG Terminal Thursday January 15, 3:47 pm ET Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2004--An Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM - News) affiliate, Vista del Sol LNG Terminal LP, has announced plans to develop a $600 million Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminal along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The proposed project, to be located in San Patricio County about two miles west of Ingleside, Texas, was announced today at an event attended by Texas Governor Rick Perry, Consul General of the State of Qatar Mohamed Al-Hayki, local business and government officials, and representatives of ExxonMobil. The terminal, which will process imported LNG for distribution throughout Texas and the United States, should take about three years to build and involve employment for some 600 workers during peak construction. The facility is expected to be operational in the 2008/09 timeframe, with a processing capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of LNG. Late last year, ExxonMobil initiated the permitting process for the Vista del Sol project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an undertaking that involves numerous engineering design, safety, environmental and other studies that typically lasts about 18 months. Prior to the initiation of the permitting process, the Port of Corpus Christi Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to support the project. In November, the company via an affiliate, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LP, entered the FERC permitting process at another Texas site, Sabine Pass, located 10 miles south of Port Arthur. "Texas and the United States need secure supplies of natural gas to attract industries, assure development and to continue the strong economic growth we're experiencing in our state and throughout the nation," said Governor Rick Perry speaking at today's event. "This project will bring jobs and other economic benefits to San Patricio County and the greater Corpus Christi area, and will provide long-term supplies of natural gas for our industries, power plants and homes. We support ExxonMobil's efforts to bring another important LNG project to Texas." Philip Dingle, president of ExxonMobil Gas and Power Marketing Company, said, "This is another important step in our plans to develop LNG receiving terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast. There is strong growth in natural gas demand projected in the future, and the import of LNG will be an important component of the supply mix. We appreciate the continued commitment of Governor Perry, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Victor Carrillo, State Senator Judith Zaffrini, State Representative Gene Seaman, San Patricio County Judge Simpson, the Port of Corpus Christi Board of Commissioners and other state, local and civic leaders who are working with us to bring this LNG project to San Patricio County. This project will help support economic development in South Texas and the U.S." In October, Exxon Mobil Corporation and Qatar Petroleum announced a Heads of Agreement to supply 15.6 million tons a year of LNG (2 bcfd) from Qatar to the United States for an expected period of 25 years. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Estimates, expectations, and business plans in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including project plans, capacities, costs, and schedules, could differ materially due to changes in market conditions affecting the oil and gas industry, political developments, the outcome of commercial negotiations, technical or operating factors, and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" included in Item 1 of ExxonMobil's most recent Form 10-K and posted on our website (www.exxonmobil.com). Gas underlying quantities of LNG referenced in this release include amounts not yet classified as proved reserves but that we believe will be produced in the future. Contact: ExxonMobil Bob Davis, 713-656-4376 Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation

To: Dennis Roth who wrote (22)	2/1/2004 7:38:13 AM
From: Dennis Roth	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 919

Tijuana, Mexico, Not Set for Gas Plant, Expert Says ( ) highmarkfunds.stockpoint.com Jan 30, 2004 (The San Diego Union-Tribune - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) -- Tijuana is incapable of responding to a serious accident at the liquefied natural gas receiving terminals that energy companies are planning to build in and near the city, according to Tijuana's director of civil protection. The official, Antonio Rosquillas, said the city doesn't have the resources to deal with an accident similar to the Jan. 19 explosion at an LNG plant in Algeria that killed 30 people, injured scores more and ignited a fire that burned for hours. It was the worst LNG accident in 30 years. "We are not prepared. And it will take a long time and too much money to be prepared," Rosquillas said after speaking this week at an LNG forum organized by the civic group Tijuana Trabaja. At least three LNG projects are planned for Baja California, two of which are near Tijuana. Unlike the facility in Algeria, which turned natural gas into liquid form, the Baja California projects will turn liquid fuel into gas. ChevronTexaco wants to build its LNG regasification platform six miles off the coast of Playas east of the Coronado Islands. Because of the off-shore location, an accident would pose no threat to Tijuana residents, said Carlos Atallah, the firm's Mexico LNG director. Marathon Oil's proposed energy complex would be less than a mile south of an upscale Tijuana suburb, Playas de Tijuana. Marathon officials say their company's LNG safety record is spotless, and they have located the plant in a gorge so the topography will protect neighbors from any mishap. "The company is committed to industrial security," said Michael Trevino, Marathon's director of public affairs. "The tranquility of our neighbors is key to the project." Alberto de la Fuente, chief of staff of the president of Mexico's Energy Regulatory Commission, said Mexico requires that emergency response resources be in place before an LNG facility opens. It is the responsibility of the plant's operator to make sure all the emergency instruments are in place, de la Fuente said. "It doesn't mean they have to build a fire station," he said. "But it means that if there aren't enough resources they will have to come to an agreement with the municipality to donate equipment. Or it might mean they will have to supply the equipment and personnel at the facility." Rosquillas said additional safety precautions are needed in Tijuana, especially because the city sits in a seismic region that is vulnerable to a 6.5 to 7.0 magnitude earthquake. "We need to have a scenario for an accident," he told the gathering. "We need to assess what to do if there is partial or complete damage to the facilities or to what extent an accident could hurt someone driving by." A facility being developed jointly by Shell Oil Co. and Sempra Energy would sit on the Costa Azul plateau 12 miles north of Ensenada. That city's civil protection director did not attend the forum. Rosquillas, who has been Tijuana's civil protection director for eight years and worked at the agency 19 years, said the event was the first time he had been included in any discussion about the LNG projects, although Marathon and ChevronTexaco officials have met numerous times with government officials, civic organizations and members of the public. He said that once the companies have the permits they need to build the LNG terminals, he will form a committee to address the public safety risks. Participants might include government officials, university scientists and members of the community, possibly from both sides of the border. By Diane Lindquist To see more of The San Diego Union-Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to uniontrib.com (c) 2004, The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune

To: Dennis Roth who wrote (22)	6/25/2004 4:35:59 PM
From: Dennis Roth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 919

Slide show showing the status of Sempra's Costa Azul, Cameron, and Port Arthur LNG terminal projects given earlier this month. shareholder.com FWIW.

To: Dennis Roth who wrote (22)	7/30/2004 6:05:34 AM
From: Dennis Roth	Respond to of 919

Plan for gas plant in Baja hits snag signonsandiego.com Foe says injunction to void permits OK'd By Diane Lindquist UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER July 30, 2004 The fuel terminal that Sempra Energy and Shell Oil plan to develop in Baja California continues to be dogged by legal challenges that might delay construction of the project, according to the developer challenging Mexican federal permits. At the same time, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility has become an issue in the Ensenada mayoral election Sunday. Two major candidates are calling for the project to be relocated to a site far south of the city. Sempra and Shell plan to develop the terminal at Costa Azul, 12 miles north of Ensenada and adjacent to the Bajamar golf resort. The $600 million project includes a re-gasification plant, storage tanks, a breakwater and dock for ocean-going tankers. The project is expected to supply natural gas to Baja California and Southern California. Bajamar developer Roberto Valdes says a preliminary injunction to nullify permits for the LNG project has been granted in response to 15 legal motions he filed in a newly created branch of Mexican federal courts, the Fiscal and Administrative Justice Court. "Until the courts make their final decision, and that could take three, four, five, six months, we can't know if the permits will be valid," he said. This month, Carlos González Castro, an Ensenada lawyer, sent copies of the injunction to Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy Walther, members of his cabinet, Ensenada's mayor and the city's fire chief. "Right now, the suspensions are in effect," González said. "They can't take any action on the project because of the suspension in Mexico City." Sempra Energy LNG President Darcel Hulse, however, said all injunctions have been lifted and dismissed. "There are no injunctions against any permits," Hulse said yesterday. He said construction remains on schedule and should begin before the end of the year. "Nothing's holding it up other than the process of building the access road and finalizing the supply agreements," Hulse said, adding that a supply agreement to receive natural gas from Indonesia will be signed in August or September. "It's been a long, long road, and it looks like it's well on track to happen just the way it was planned," Hulse said. The status of the permits does not seem certain, however. Two federal permits – a development permit and an environmental permit – are key to development of the project. A land-use permit from the city of Ensenada also is required. Before Sempra and Shell decided to collaborate on a joint venture, both had been granted the necessary federal permits. Former Energy Secretary Felipe Calderon, before being removed from office this spring, told The San Diego Union-Tribune the project will require new permits because the joint venture now is the project developer. Hulse said that because Shell is joining the existing Sempra project, no new permits are required. Changes were required from Mexico's competitiveness commission, he noted, and they have been received. Some Mexican energy officials have said the action by the Federal Court of Fiscal and Administrative Justice suspends not only the environmental permit but also the developmental permit. Others have been vague about the status and affect of the court action. But George Baker, a Houston consultant specializing in Mexican energy issues, said the lack of precedent by the new court, which was created by President Vicente Fox, makes for judicial uncertainty. "The rules are not yet fully known," Baker said. "It's premature to judge how this matter is going to be resolved." Ensenada's mayoral election Sunday might further complicate matters. The support for the project of Mayor Jorge Catalán Sosa of the National Action Party, or PAN, and his administration's granting of a land-use permit for the Sempra-Shell project has emerged as a major issue in the race. Both major opposition candidates – Rogelio Appel Chacon of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and Sergio Loperena of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) – have called for the project to be relocated far south of Ensenada at Punta Colonet. Cesar Mancillas Amador, the PAN candidate, supports the site favored by Shell and Sempra. A group of local businessmen has proposed creating a new industrial center at Punta Colonet to include an industrial port operation, a rail line and the liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Diane Lindquist: (619) 293-1812; diane.lindquist@uniontrib.com