Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Leases

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Leases
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Leases [Abstract]  
Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]
LEASES

During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we recognized rental expense for all operating leases of $9.2 million, $9.1 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

The following is a schedule by years of future minimum rental payments, excluding inflationary adjustments, required as of December 31, 2011 under the land leases and tug boat lease described below (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
Lease Payments (2)
2012
 
$
9,647

2013
 
9,590

2014
 
9,590

2015
 
9,590

2016
 
9,590

Later years (1)
 
239,521

Total minimum payments required
 
$
287,528

 
(1)
The later years include the remaining initial term and six 10-year extensions of Sabine Pass LNG’s land leases and the remaining initial term and two 5-year extensions of Sabine Pass LNG’s tug boat lease, as the lease option renewals were reasonably assured.
(2)
Lease payments for Sabine Pass LNG’s tug boat lease represent its lease payment obligation and do not take into account the $120.3 million of sublease payments Sabine Pass LNG will receive from its three TUA customers that effectively offset these lease payment obligations, as discussed below.
  
Land Leases

In January 2005, Sabine Pass LNG exercised its options and entered into three land leases for the site of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.  The leases have an initial term of 30 years, with options to renew for six 10-year extensions with similar terms as the initial term. In February 2005, two of the three leases were amended, increasing the total acreage under lease to 853 acres and increasing the annual lease payments to $1.5 million.  In November and December 2011, we entered into two additional land leases, thereby increasing the total acreage under lease to 1,015 acres and increasing the annual lease payments by $0.4 million. The annual lease payments are adjusted for inflation every five years based on a consumer price index, as defined in the lease agreements. We recognized $1.8 million, $1.7 million and $1.5 million of site lease expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Tug Boat Lease

In the second quarter of 2009, Sabine Pass LNG acquired a lease for the use of tug boats and marine services at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal as a result of its purchase of Tug Services (the "Tug Agreement").  The term of the Tug Agreement commenced in January 2008 for a period of 10 years, with an option to renew two additional, consecutive terms of five years each.  We have determined that the Tug Agreement contains a lease for the tugs specified in the Tug Agreement.  In addition, we have concluded that the tug lease contained in the Tug Agreement is an operating lease, and as such, the equipment component of the Tug Agreement will be charged to expense over the term of the Tug Agreement as it becomes payable.

In connection with this lease acquisition, Tug Services entered into a Tug Sharing Agreement with Chevron, Total and Cheniere Marketing to provide their LNG cargo vessels with tug boat and marine services at our LNG terminal and effectively offset the cost of our lease. The Tug Sharing Agreement provides for each of our customers to pay Tug Services an annual service fee.