Southern Natural Gas Company and Elba Express Company have announced plans for a large-scale pipeline expansion across parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The project, referred to in federal filings as the South System Expansion 4 Project, was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on June 30 and is now pending under Docket No. CP25-517-000.
The project includes approximately 291 miles of new pipeline segments, most of which will run alongside existing lines. The companies plan to build 14 new continuous pipeline loops, expand compression capabilities at 12 compressor stations, and modify meter stations in several counties. Work will also include the abandonment of older equipment and the replacement of certain facilities with more efficient systems.
In Alabama, changes will occur along the company’s South Main Line and at existing compressor and meter stations. The project will affect multiple counties, including Perry and Hale, where public copies of the application have been placed at the Marion-Perry County Library and the Hale County Library in Greensboro. Copies are also available at libraries across the route in Mississippi and Georgia, as well as on the FERC website.
The companies have asked the federal commission to approve the project by July 1, 2026. If approved, they plan to place the new facilities into service in two phases—by November 1, 2028, and November 1, 2029. According to the companies, this timeline aligns with agreements already made with shippers.
Construction and maintenance will follow federal erosion control and wetland protection guidelines. The companies say they have already notified directly affected landowners and plan to reach out again for follow- up discussions. Notices have also been mailed to nearby property owners, local governments, and regulatory agencies.
At this stage, no public hearings have been announced in Perry or Hale counties. Affected residents can view the full application online at www.ferc.gov, or request more information by calling the companies’ project line at (833) 941-0068. Copies of the FERC landowner rights pamphlet, “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” are also available online or by calling the FERC Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-3372.
