Zyda Law are pleased to announce that on 20 December 2007, INEOS Chlor Ltd and Gaz De France concluded their conditional sale agreement for the acquisition of the Stublach Gas Storage Facility (28 underground cavities) and above ground compressor station.

Zyda Law were instrumental in achieving satisfaction of a condition precedent to the sale agreement, namely the receipt of a continuation of a Hazardous Substances Consent.

Under the agreement, Gaz de France will assume responsibility from INEOS Enterprises for the development of the Stublach Gas Storage Facility.  INEOS Enterprises will provide solution-mining services for the creation of the cavities.  Gaz de France will also operate the facility upon completion. 

Gaz de France is a major player in both the UK and European energy markets and is involved in the production, transportation, distribution, trading and marketing of gas, electricity and related services for its customers.  

On behalf of INEOS Enterprises, Zyda Law, secured planning and hazardous substances consent for the Stublach Gas Storage Facility in 2006.  The project will consist of up to 28 cavities that will be solution mined for gas storage at INEOS Enterprises' existing brinefields at Holford, Cheshire, along with a gas compression station and associated infrastructure that will connect the facility to the National Transmission System.  The facility is designed to store a maximum working gas volume of approximately 200 mTherms of natural gas and have a deliverability of 12m therms/day. 

Dr Harry Deans, CEO INEOS Enterprises comments: "We are pleased that we have been able to reach this agreement with Gaz de France.  This alliance plays to the key strengths of Gaz de France and INEOS Enterprises and will secure delivery of this much needed and strategically important storage facility.  The facility will make a significant contribution to the long-term security of gas supplies in the UK and to the future of INEOS Enterprises through the associated brine winning activities."

INEOS Enterprises will continue to be closely involved in the forward development of the Stublach Gas Storage Facility through the provision of specialist skills and expertise in the solution mining of the new gas cavities, with the brine extracted used by INEOS Enterprises for onward supply to the local chemicals industry.