Emerald Storage Holdings, the parent company of Enstor Gas and its subsidiary Mississippi Hub, has achieved a significant milestone in the expansion of its Mississippi Hub natural gas storage facility.
The company has accepted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certificate, clearing the way for a project that will more than double the site’s capacity and is expected to be operational by 2028.
The FERC order, issued on March 20, 2025, not only authorises the expansion but also grants Mississippi Hub the authority to charge market-based rates for its storage, hub, and wheeling services.
The Mississippi Hub Expansion Project will add three new underground storage caverns, each with approximately 10 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of working storage capacity, and includes enhancements to existing caverns.
The project also involves the construction of compression, dehydration, and saltwater disposal wells, as well as other related facilities.
Upon completion, the facility’s total working gas storage capacity will reach 56.3 Bcf — about 2.5 times its current capacity — along with an injection capacity increase to 1.90 million dekatherms per day.
The first new cavern is already fully subscribed under a long-term contract with a Kinder Morgan subsidiary, reflecting strong market demand driven by the growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and gas-fired power generation.
Mississippi Hub’s strategic location on the Bond Salt Dome in Simpson County, Mississippi, allows it to serve key markets through interconnections with Southern Natural Gas, Southeast Supply Header, and the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline.
Enstor CEO Paul Bieniawski commented on the milestone, stating: “We are pleased to have received FERC’s approval for our Mississippi Hub Expansion Project and look forward to moving ahead with construction.
“This expansion project will not only enhance reliability and flexibility for our customers in the Gulf Coast and south-east markets, but it will also provide significant additional natural gas storage capacity at a time when it is needed most.
“With US LNG exports rapidly expanding and the demand for gas-fired power generation continuing to grow nationwide, Enstor is excited to be on the forefront of providing the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure reliable energy security for the US and beyond.”
Ernesto Ochoa, chief commercial officer for KMI East Region, added: “Expansion projects underway for the south-east region, including Evangeline Pass, Mississippi Crossing and the South System Expansion 4 projects, are the direct result of significant natural gas demand expectations for the near future.
“With growing natural gas demand, there is a need for additional storage in this region.
“During times of volatile natural gas pricing or for operational flexibility, storage provides customers with optionality.
“Additional storage coupled with our extensive network further enhances the services we can provide our customers.”
Enstor anticipates the expansion will bring positive regional impacts, including job creation, economic development, and increased tax revenues.
The project is designed to minimise environmental impacts by utilising existing infrastructure and optimising land use, while also enhancing energy security and price competitiveness for customers.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with the expanded facility scheduled to be in service by 2028.
