Gaz Métro Offers Additional Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Capacity to Supply New England Gas Distribution Companies

MONTRÉAL--()--Gaz Métro announced today that its subsidiary Gaz Métro LNG, L.P. (Gaz Métro LNG) has completed its expansion project tripling the capacity of its Montréal natural gas liquefaction plant, adding a major potential source of natural gas for the New England market.

Gaz Métro LNG's expansion project, supported by Gaz Métro and Investissement Québec, increases the annual liquefaction capacity of Gaz Métro’s Montréal plant from 3 billion cubic feet to more than 9 billion cubic feet (BCF).

"In addition to serving robust demand for LNG in the Province of Québec, we have now, more than ever, an increased capacity to deliver LNG to local distribution companies, industries, and other customers in the Northeast U.S.,'' said Martin Imbleau, Senior Vice President, Operations, Transport and Development of New Energies at Gaz Métro. "Gaz Métro offers clean-burning, safe, affordable natural gas with a long and proven track record. We are the U.S. Northeast’s neighbor, and we are pleased to be able to play a more significant role as New Englanders' energy solutions partner. "

Gaz Métro LNG serves various clients in the U.S. Northeast, notably National Grid's Massachusetts and Rhode Island gas distribution companies. “LNG plays an important role in meeting the needs of our customers on the coldest days of the year,” said John Vaughn, National Grid Vice President of Energy Procurement. “Demand for natural gas in New England is rising, and partners like Gaz Métro allow us to diversify our supply chain and are playing an important role by providing LNG that lets us serve customers efficiently throughout the year.”

About LNG

LNG is natural gas chilled to -260 °F that takes up 620 times less space than in its gaseous state, which enables storage and transportation of large quantities of energy to customers who cannot be served by the traditional natural gas network. LNG is warmed and reinjected as vaporized gas into utility distribution networks, electric generating stations, and industrial, commercial, and residential facilities. An energy option for more than 50 years, it is becoming increasingly popular due to the significant advantages it offers its users. In addition to reducing the environmental footprint of its users, LNG is nontoxic, colorless, odorless, and non-corrosive.

Across New England, natural gas local distribution companies have 16.1 BCF of LNG storage in service and capacity to turn 1.4 billion BCF per day of LNG into vapor gas for customer use, according to the Northeast Gas Association.

About Gaz Métro and Gaz Métro LNG

With more than US$5.8 billion in assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider. Gaz Métro is actively involved in developing and operating innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel, liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, the production of wind and solar power and the development of biomethane. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Québec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves more than 300 municipalities and more than 205,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present in Vermont, where it has more than 315,000 customers. There, it operates in the electricity production market and the electricity and natural gas distribution market. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations, and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (Gaz Métro inc. and Valener inc.) and employees.

Gaz Métro LNG L.P. (Gaz Métro LNG) is a subsidiary of Gaz Métro that was created to market and sell liquefied natural gas (LNG). Investissement Québec is a partner of Gaz Métro LNG, with a 42% stake in the partnership.

Contacts

PR
Peter Howe, 617-482-0042 ext. 220
phowe@denterlein.com

Contacts

PR
Peter Howe, 617-482-0042 ext. 220
phowe@denterlein.com