HOUSTON, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Southern Natural Gas has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the planned Cypress Pipeline project, which will expand its system by adding a new pipeline from Savannah, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida.

"We are committed to developing critical infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of consumers," said Jim Yardley, president of El Paso's Southern Pipeline Group. "The Cypress project is part of the $1.1 billion we plan to spend over the next five years to bring additional sources of natural gas to the Southeast."

The 176-mile pipeline project will transport natural gas supplies from Elba Island, the company's LNG terminal near Savannah, to markets in the Southeast. The project has firm capacity commitments from Progress Energy Florida, Inc. and BG LNG Services, LLC and is expected to be in service by mid-2007.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit http://www.elpaso.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including, without limitation, our ability successfully design, construct and operate the natural gas pipeline project described in this release; competition; and other factors described in the company's (and its affiliates') Securities and Exchange Commission filings. While the company makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference must be made to those filings for additional important factors that may affect actual results. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the company, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE El Paso Corporation
06/27/2006

CONTACT: investor and public relations, Bruce L. Connery, Vice President, +1-713-420-5855, or media relations, Richard Wheatley, Manager, +1-713-420-6828, both of El Paso Corporation

8827 06/27/2006 11:19 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com