Semco to build Michigan pipeline

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

Semco Energy Inc. said May 15 that the company has been awarded a contract to build a 7.5 mile, 16-inch natural gas pipeline to serve the new Southern Energy Inc. power generation plant in Zeeland, Mich.

Southern Energy is a unit of Southern Co. The 830-megawatt plant will help supply the growing demand for energy in the upper Midwest.

The gas pipeline will connect the plant with ANR Pipeline’s interstate mainline system. Construction of the natural gas-fired plant is scheduled to begin in May, with commercial operation expected to begin in June 2001.

Semco Energy will own and operate the interconnecting line for 12 years. Maverick Pipeline Services Inc., a subsidiary of Semco Energy, will handle the complete turnkey construction project.

Semco said preliminary work on the pipeline project is under way, with construction expected to begin this spring and a projected completion date in early 2001.

In Alaska, Semco recently acquired Enstar Natural Gas Co. and Alaska Pipeline Co.