BG Group plc announced today that Martin Houston, Executive
Vice President and Managing Director of the Group's
Atlantic, Europe and Mediterranean Basin region, has
been appointed to the newly created position of Executive
Vice President and Managing Director, North
America, Caribbean and Global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Martin, 45, will take up his new position with immediate
effect, and will be based in the company's Houston
office in Texas, USA. Responsible for developing the
company's
global LNG business, Martin will oversee existing operations
in Trinidad and the
USA and will head-up business development in North America
and the Caribbean.
Commenting, Frank Chapman said: "This new position
reflects the importance we place on our long-term Atlantic
LNG strategy and on the opportunities that exist in the
North American market. Beyond the striking success of
our Lake Charles operation in the Gulf of
Mexico, there is huge potential within the region to
accelerate further our LNG business and to build on our
position
there as a leading supplier to
the North American market."
An announcement regarding Martin's successor will
be made in due course. In the interim, Jon Wormley, Executive
Vice President and Managing Director of BG's UK
region will oversee the Europe and Mediterranean region.
Notes to Editors
LNG represents one of BG Group's core business
segments. The Company is involved in developing LNG projects
in Trinidad & Tobago, Egypt, Italy, India, Indonesia,
Bolivia and Iran. In January 2002, BG LNG Services (BGLS),
a wholly- owned subsidiary, took 81
per cent of the capacity at North America's
largest operating import terminal, Lake Charles in Louisiana,
which has the capability to receive, store, vaporise
and deliver an average daily send-out of 4.7 million
tonnes per annum (mtpa). From September 2005, BGLS will
take
100 per cent of the capacity. In
March 2003, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission gave approval for expansion of the terminal
to 8.9 mtpa. Construction of the expansion plant is expected
to be completed by the beginning of 2006.
BG currently owns two LNG ships which are on long-term
charters in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
It also charters four ships, all of which are contracted
to either long-term or short-term charters. BG has made
commitments to take delivery of two new LNG
ships, which will be delivered in mid 2004. In addition,
BG has secured options for the delivery of a further
four new-build ships in 2006. |