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Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
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9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2012
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| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] | |
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents that are contractually restricted as to usage or withdrawal, as follows:
Senior Notes Debt Service Reserve
Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. ("Sabine Pass LNG") has consummated private offerings of an aggregate principal amount of $2,215.5 million of Senior Notes (See Note 6—"Debt and Debt—Related Parties" ). Under the indenture governing the Senior Notes (the "Sabine Pass Indenture"), except for permitted tax distributions and certain other permitted 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 of $82.4 million. 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 Indenture.
As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we classified $54.9 million and $13.7 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents for the payment of interest due within twelve months. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we classified the permanent debt service reserve fund of $82.4 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.
Liquefaction Reserve
In July 2012, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC ("Sabine Pass Liquefaction") closed on a $3.6 billion senior secured credit facility (the "Liquefaction Credit Facility"). Under the terms and conditions of the Liquefaction Credit Facility, 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 September 30, 2012, we classified $184.8 million as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction as such funds are to be used to acquire non-current assets. As of September 30, 2012, we classified $68.4 million as current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction as such funds are to be used to pay for current liabilities.
Other Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $369.1 million and $81.4 million, respectively, of current restricted cash and cash equivalents were primarily related to cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. ("Cheniere Partners") that were considered restricted to Cheniere. As of September 30, 2012, $8.3 million had been classified as current restricted cash and cash equivalents due to various other contractual restrictions. As of December 31, 2011, $6.4 million had been classified as current restricted cash and cash equivalents due to various other contractual restrictions on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, $0.5 million had been classified as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents due to various other contractual restrictions on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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