Pacific Trail Pipelines (PTP), operator of a proposed natural gas pipeline in Canada, is seeking expressions of interest for capacity in the pipeline, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The C$1.2 billion pipeline will supply gas to the Kitimat liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in British Columbia and will increase the capacity of PTP's existing pipeline capacity in the area.

PTP said it will accept expressions of interest until December 22, 2008.

"It is too early to say at this point what the levels of interest will be," PTP Vice President Greg Weeres told Reuters, adding that so far there had been no formal interest.

PTP's announcement comes as Kitimat LNG, which is hoping to start exporting natural gas as LNG to Asian markets in 2013, seeks interest in capacity in the export terminal as well as potential equity partnerships.

Kitimat LNG, wholly owned by Galveston LNG, expects to start reviewing interest in mid-December.

Pacific Trail Pipelines is a partnership between Pacific Northern Gas Ltd and Galveston LNG.

LNG is natural gas cooled to liquid for transport in specially designed tankers and then regasified at a terminal for transport ashore through pipelines.


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