A $35 million, 45-mile Texas-to-Mexico natural gas pipeline is set to be ready by mid-December. With a capacity of 212 MMBtu/d, the 24-inch diameter pipeline will supply the 700-megawatt Samalayuca I and II power plants, set partially to open in 1998. El Paso Natural Gas Co. and El Paso International Co. are partnered with Pemex Gas Y Petroquimica Basica in the 50-50 joint venture.
El Paso International also has signed a joint development pact with Furnas Centrais Eletricas S.A., BHP of Brazil Energy, Centrais Electricas Brasileiras S.A., and British Gas of Brazil. The group will build a 450-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Macae, Brazil. The thermal plant will include a 21.7 mile transmission line. Construction is expected to begin later this year with full commercial operation set for 2000.
Enron Corp. awarded Stone & Webster Inc. an engineering and management contract for a 790-MW independent power project in the United Kingdom. The gas-fired plant was set for commercial operation in March 1999. Global Energy also selected the engineering firm to design and manage construction of a 75-MW project in Scotland. General Electric is a partner in the project, set for an August 1998 finish.
Battery Ventures expected last month to acquire a majority stake in Altra Energy Technologies from The Williams Cos. Inc. and Duke Energy Corp. Terms weren't disclosed. Battery Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in software and communications markets; Altra provides software and other systems to the energy marketing and transportation industries.