Three Bidders for CFE pipeline project

Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) has opened technical proposals for the proposed Topolobampo branch line, in the state of Sinaloa, northwestern Mexico. Three companies have submitted their bids for the pipeline project to supply natural gas to power plants.

The bids come from Infraestructura Energetica Nova (IEnova), the Mexico unit of Sempra Energy, Infraestructura Energetica Monarca, a subsidiary of TransCanada Corp.; and Gas Natural del Noroeste, part of Grupo SIMSA.

After CFE's technical proposals approval, economic offers will be opened on October 13, and a winner announced on October 20. The pipeline is expected to go in service in July 2018.

The US$55 million worth Topolobampo branch line comprises 32 km, 24 inch lateral pipeline that will supply fuel for two combined-cycle power plants ( 890 MW Topolobampo II and 766 MW Topolobampo III ) near Los Mochis, on the Gulf of California coast. The pipeline will have a capacity of 280 MMcf/d and will transport gas from TransCanada’s 560 km El Encino- Topolobampo pipeline.

All the pipelines are privately owned and operate independently from Mexico’s main network of natural gas pipelines, Sistrangas.