Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

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Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]  
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Text Block]
RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents consist of funds that are contractually restricted as to usage or withdrawal and have been presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Restricted cash and cash equivalents include the following:
 
Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes Debt Service Reserve

Sabine Pass LNG has consummated private debt offerings of an aggregate principal amount of $1,665.5 million, before discount, of 7.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the "2016 Notes") and $420.0 million of 6.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the "2020 Notes"). See Note 11—"Long-Term Debt". Collectively, the 2016 Notes and the 2020 Notes are referred to as the "Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes." Under the indentures governing the Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes (the "Sabine Pass LNG Indentures"), except for permitted tax distributions, Sabine Pass LNG may not make distributions until certain conditions are satisfied, including that there must be on deposit in an interest payment account an amount equal to one-sixth of the semi-annual interest payment multiplied by the number of elapsed months since the last semi-annual interest payment and there must be on deposit in a permanent debt service reserve fund an amount equal to one semi-annual interest payment. Distributions are permitted only after satisfying the foregoing funding requirements, a fixed charge coverage ratio test of 2:1 and other conditions specified in the Sabine Pass LNG Indentures.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we classified $15.0 million and $17.4 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents for the payment of interest due within twelve months. As of both December 31, 2013 and 2012, we classified the permanent debt service reserve fund of $76.1 million as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents. These cash accounts are controlled by a collateral trustee, and, therefore, are shown as restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Sabine Pass Liquefaction Reserve

In July 2012, Sabine Pass Liquefaction entered into a construction/term loan facility in an amount up to $3.6 billion (the "2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility"). During 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction closed on an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion, before premium, of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the "2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes"), $1.0 billion of 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the "2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes" and collectively with the 2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes and the 2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes, the "Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes"). Also during 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction closed four credit facilities aggregating $5.9 billion (collectively the "2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities"), which amended and restated the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility. See Note 11—"Long-Term Debt". Under the terms and conditions of the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility and the 2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities, Sabine Pass Liquefaction is required to deposit all cash received into reserve accounts controlled by a collateral trustee. Therefore, all of Sabine Pass Liquefaction's cash and cash equivalents are shown as restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we classified $192.1 million and $75.1 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for the payment of current liabilities related to the Liquefaction Project and $867.6 million and $196.3 million, respectively, as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for future Liquefaction Project construction costs.

CTPL Reserve

In May 2013, CTPL entered into a $400.0 million term loan credit facility (the "CTPL Credit Facility"). As of December 31, 2013, we classified $20.5 million and $81.4 million as current and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents, respectively, held by CTPL because such funds may only be used for modifications of Creole Trail Pipeline in order to enable bi-directional natural gas flow and for the payment of interest during construction of such modifications.