Two of the most expensive gas pipelines ever proposed in the history of North America, namely North Slope, starting in Alaska, and Mackenzie Delta, in Canada, have now passed the point of no return. In the first case, the period for submitting construction bids closed on the last day of November. Along 2730 km in a 48-inch diameter pipe, gas would be transported from Alaska to the Canadian frontier and then on to the area of Chicago or the US Mid-West. In both cases, the year 2008 is when the decisions must be taken.

In Canada there is also the Kitimat LNG terminal, which is planned to start delivering gas in 2010. Drilling activity in this country has fallen in relation to 2006. The reason has been the drop in prices in North America and the increased costs. The reduction in drilling ranged from 7%(Saskatchewan) to 42% (British Colombia).

In 2007, the USA had four terminals operating. In recent years, three terminal projects in California have been rejected due to local opposition. In mid-2007, construction began on a floating terminal in the outer part of the port of Boston, with capacity for three million tonnes of LNG a year.

Finally, the Energía Costa Azul terminal, situated in Baja California, in Mexico, is about to open, although it is partly dedicated to the US market.

In Venezuela, the Mariscal Sucre plant project continues its long dilatory process. There are contacts with interested foreign companies, but there is no firm decision about its construction.

In Peru, the deadlines and forecasts of the Camisea project, in which Repsol YPF is involved, are being adhered to. It will become operational in 2010, when it will start supplying Mexico, several markets on the American Pacific coast and some Asian countries.

In June, BG signed an agreement to build the first LNG terminal in Chile. Situated at Bahía Quintero, 110 Km to the northwest of Santiago, it will have capacity to supply 40% of the natural gas demand in this Andean country. The target is to start operations in the second quarter of 2009. There are plans to build a second plant in the north of Chile, to meet the energy needs of this country’s expanded copper mining. If this second plant is built, these two would supply the natural gas imported by Chile from Argentina.