SUEZ LNG Subsidiary Kicks Off Construction of Neptune Offshore LNG Facility

Company Presents $23.5 Million in Mitigation Payments at Community Gathering

BOSTON, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- SUEZ LNG NA LLC (SUEZ) announced today
that construction has begun on its offshore LNG project, Neptune. The first
phase of construction, expected to be completed in September 2008, includes
the installation of a 13-mile sub-sea pipeline that will connect the Neptune
LNG facility with the existing Spectra Energy HubLine(SM). The second phase,
scheduled to begin in May 2009 and continue into September 2009, includes
connection of the pipeline to HubLine(SM) and installation of the two
off-loading buoys for the project. Upon completion, the LNG facility will
consist of an unloading buoy system where specially designed vessels will
moor, offload their natural gas, and deliver it to customers in Massachusetts
and throughout New England.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/CLTU162LOGO )
SUEZ also presented $23.5 million in total mitigation payments today to
the organizations designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the
SUEZ-hosted community celebration in the City of Gloucester. The company
thanked the residents of the North Shore, local community groups, federal and
state organizations, and elected officials for their help and support
throughout the permitting process.
"This is a tremendously important day for SUEZ," said Clay Harris, SUEZ
LNG NA President and CEO. "It is the result of four years of hard work,
planning and collaboration with the United States Maritime Administration, the
United States Coast Guard, other federal agencies, the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, local officials, regulators, and the North Shore community.
SUEZ has been dedicated to serving New England for over 30 years through our
Everett facility. The addition of Neptune provides the most reliable means to
supplement that service to meet growing demand. Today we achieved an
important milestone in this process."
The City of Gloucester will serve as the home port for the Neptune
project, representing a direct infusion of over $10 million into the local
economy over the expected lifespan of the project.
This includes SUEZ's lease at the Cruiseport, where it will moor its
support and towing vessel for the project, as well as lease storage and office
space. The support vessel is equipped with fire-fighting equipment, and will
be available to local emergency responders.
"I am pleased to see this project get under way," said Ian Bowles,
Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for Massachusetts. "This
offshore LNG port represents an important new source of natural gas for the
region delivered by innovative technology, and the mitigation funds provided
by Suez represent vital new resources for the community. I am especially
pleased that Suez has agreed to accelerate contributions for low income
heating assistance and energy efficiency, recognizing that this winter's
heating season is expected to be difficult for many Massachusetts families."
Pipeline installation activities for 2008 include: (1) laying the
pipeline (consisting of both a natural gas transmission line and a flowline
that connects the buoys) on the sea bottom; (2) plowing a sub-sea trench and
placing the pipeline in the trench; (3) backfilling the trench.
About SUEZ Energy North America
SUEZ LNG NA LLC is a subsidiary of SUEZ Energy North America, Inc. (SENA).
SENA is the business unit of SUEZ Energy International responsible for
managing SUEZ's positions within the energy value chain in the United States,
Mexico, and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural
gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), asset-based trading and origination, and
retail energy sales and related services to commercial and industrial
customers.
SENA owns and/or operates a total of 47 power, cogeneration, steam, and
chilled-water facilities, including those in construction, representing a
capacity of more than 6,382 MW of electricity generation, 6.0 million pounds
per hour of steam, and 41,973 tons per hour of chilled water. SUEZ Energy
North America's wholly owned subsidiary, Distrigas of Massachusetts, owns and
operates a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal in Everett, Mass., which
began operations in 1971 and currently serves most of the gas utilities in New
England and key power producers, meeting approximately 20 percent of New
England's annual gas demand. In addition, SUEZ Energy North America has two
LNG deepwater port projects under development off the coasts of Massachusetts
and Florida.
SUEZ Energy International is a business line of SUEZ, which is an
international industrial and services Group that employs 149,000 people
worldwide.
For more information about these companies and their activities, please
visit the following websites: SUEZ: www.suez.com
SUEZ Energy International: www.suezenergyint.com
SUEZ Energy North America: www.suezenergyna.com

SOURCE SUEZ LNG NA LLC

Carol Churchill, +1-617-526-8359, for SUEZ LNG NA LLC