Brazil's TAG, Eneva to connect LNG pipeline to private terminal in October
ARACAJU, Brazil, July 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian energy firm TAG plans to start operations of a new pipeline section in October that will connect the country's largest pipeline network to Eneva's liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage terminal in Sergipe state.
The project is seen as a milestone by the companies, as it would make Eneva the first private firm to have a LNG terminal connected to Brazil's natural gas transport network. State-run Petrobras PETR4.SA owns the other units currently in operation.
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TAG CEO Gustavo Labanca told Reuters on Tuesday that 350 million reais ($62.67 million) were invested in the new 25-km (15.5-mile) pipeline section, which will be able to transport as much as 14 million cubic meters of LNG per day.
Labanca said the move will provide the country's national LNG supply chain with greater flexibility and security.
TAG, which is backed by French company Engie and Canadian fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), was sold by Petrobras in 2019.
It expects to invest some 5.2 billion reais in expansion and maintenance efforts in Brazil by 2028, Labanca said.
The pipeline section in the northeastern state of Sergipe still requires approval from regulator ANP and a state environmental license. Its estimated capacity represents around 10% of all natural gas production in Brazil.
Eneva's so-called Sergipe Hub has a floating natural gas storage and regasification unit with capacity for 21 million cubic meters per day.
It also includes a 1.6-gigawatt thermoelectric power plant, which uses some 6 million cubic meters of LNG per day.
The project with TAG has enabled Eneva to move closer to new supply agreements for imported LNG. Eneva sees room to negotiate an extra supply of up to 10 million cubic meters per day for new customers, CEO Lino Cancado told Reuters.
($1 = 5.5851 reais)
(Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Luana Maria Benedito; Editing by Paul Simao)