BG Group plc : BG Group to increase LNG volumes from Sabine Pass

26 January 2012

BG Group to increase LNG volumes from Sabine Pass

BG Group announced today that it has reached agreement with Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (Sabine Liquefaction), a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., to purchase an additional 2 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a 20-year period from the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, USA.

In October 2011, BG Group announced it had signed a fully-termed sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Sabine Liquefaction  for the purchase of 3.5 mtpa of LNG over a 20-year period. The additional volumes associated with today's announcement have been incorporated into the SPA.

BG Group Chief Executive Sir Frank Chapman said: "The purchase of additional volumes from the Sabine Pass facility builds on the ground-breaking agreement we entered into last year, in which BG Group secured LNG export volumes from the US Gulf Coast.

"The agreement adds further volume to our diversified global LNG supply portfolio and is underpinned by the recent material increases in US gas reserves as well as a favourable long-term outlook for global LNG demand."

Construction of the liquefaction facilities at Sabine Pass is scheduled to begin in 2012, with an initial phase of two LNG trains.  Construction of the second phase, an additional two trains, is expected to commence in 2013, with exports from the initial phase to start as early as 2015 and for the second phase from as early as 2017.

At the same time, BG Group is pursuing an expansion of the Lake Charles LNG terminal, in Louisiana, USA, to provide natural gas liquefaction services.  The US Department of Energy (DoE) has authorised the terminal to export up to 730 Bcf of natural gas per year (approximately 15 mtpa) to countries that have a free trade agreement in place with the USA. 

The DOE is reviewing an application to export natural gas from the Lake Charles LNG terminal to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the USA.

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Notes to Editors:

BG Group plc (LSE: BG.L) is a world leader in natural gas, with a strategy focused on connecting competitively priced resources to specific, high-value markets. Active in more than 25 countries on five continents, BG Group has a broad portfolio of exploration and production, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and transmission and distribution business interests. It combines a deep understanding of gas markets with a proven track record in finding and commercialising reserves. For further information visit:  

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There are matters set out within this announcement that are forward-looking statements. Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements, refer to
BG Group's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010. BG Group does not undertake any obligation to update publicly, or revise, forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.