SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) today reported it is in the process of assessing Hurricane Rita's impact on the sites of Sempra LNG's liquefied natural gas (LNG) receipt terminals at Cameron Parish, La., and Port Arthur, Texas.
Some grading and initial site preparation work had been started at Cameron LNG. In response to hurricane warnings last week, however, the contractor removed equipment and evacuated the site. The Port Arthur LNG project still is in the permitting stages and no work has begun there.
In addition, the company reported that the seven Texas-based power plants managed by its Sempra Generation power-generation subsidiary sustained no storm damage and continue to operate.
"Despite the terrible impacts of the storm and flooding on the Cameron and Port Arthur areas, we at Sempra Energy are resolved and committed to moving forward with our investment in the infrastructure, communities and people of that region," said Stephen L. Baum, chairman and chief executive office of Sempra Energy. "The Gulf Coast is vital to the energy infrastructure of our nation and it will continue to play that role for generations.
"Our efforts in the upcoming weeks and months will involve seeking how we can help our friends and neighbors in Cameron Parish and Port Arthur as they strive to clean-up and rebuild their communities."
Cameron LNG is designed to process 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day (Bcfd). It is scheduled to begin commercial operations in late 2008. Port Arthur LNG is designed to process 1.5 Bcfd of natural gas, and is expandable to 3 Bcfd. Construction of the Port Arthur LNG project is scheduled to begin in 2006 with operations starting in 2009.
Sempra Generation owns and operates the 305-megawatt (MW) Twin Oaks Power plant in Bremond, Texas, and manages operations at six other Texas power plants, representing about 1,900 MW, for the Topaz Power Group. Topaz Power Group is a joint venture of Sempra Energy and Carlyle/Riverstone.
The Topaz Power Group facilities managed by Sempra Generation in Texas include:
-- Coleto Creek: A 632-MW coal-fired plant in Goliad County.
-- Barney M. Davis: A 697-MW natural gas and oil-fueled plant near
Corpus Christi.
-- Bates Power Station: A 182-MW natural gas- and oil-fueled
generating facility in Palmview.
-- La Palma Power Station: A 255-MW natural gas and oil-fueled plant
in San Benito.
-- Laredo Power Station: A 178-MW natural gas-fueled power plant in
Laredo.
-- Eagle Pass Generation: A 6-MW hydroelectric power plant located
on the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2004 revenues of $9.4 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 13,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.
This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When the company uses words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "would," "should" or similar expressions, or when the company discusses its strategy or plans, the company is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the California Department of Water Resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries; capital markets conditions, inflation rates, interest rates and exchange rates; energy and trading markets, including the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the availability of natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental, and legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site, www.sec.gov and on the company's Web site, www.sempra.com.
Sempra LNG, Sempra Generation and Sempra Pipelines & Storage are not the same companies as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.