§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the gas-gathering pipeline is intended to be a common carrier system; and whether participants or an independent authority will set the tariffs.
§ Mr. GrayOn 19 June I informed the House that the Organising Group (BGC, BP, and Mobil) would be developing proposals for how the pipeline organisation could best be structured as a private utility transmission company. I have no plans for an independent authority to determine pipeline tariffs.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of ethane derived from the gas-gathering pipeline is expected to be included in specification gas purchased by the British Gas Council.
§ Mr. GrayNo decisions have yet been made. The BGC/Mobil gas-gathering study (published as Energy Paper No. 44), assumed that 20 per cent. of the ethane would be included in specification gas purchased by the British Gas Corporation.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the company or authority scheduled to build and operate the gas-gathering pipeline will also operate the feeder lines covering gases other than methane to port facilities or petrochemical plants.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in order to be able to fix the date for commencing work on the gas-gathering pipeline, he will seek to expedite the settlement of a price to be paid for the methane derived from the pipeline.
§ Mr. GrayWork on the gas gathering pipeline is already well under way, as are gas sales negotiations between British Gas and licensees.