The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized Texas Eastern Transmission LP to start building the South Texas Expansion project, or STEP, that will help export up to 396,000 Dth/d of natural gas to Mexican power markets.
The $137.3 million pipeline expansion project, which FERC approved in a certificate order on Feb. 15, and the related Pomelo pipeline project will provide Mexico's Comisión Federal de Electricidad with long-term firm gas transportation service. Texas Eastern, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., applied for the STEP project in May 2015. The company has estimated an in-service date of Oct. 1.
The STEP project will consist of a new compressor station in Nueces County, Texas; upgrades to a compressor station in Matagorda County, Texas; and modifications to compressor facilities in Chambers, Orange and Brazoria counties in Texas. (FERC docket CP15-499)
