Oct 9 (Reuters) - A pipeline that would allow Guyana to

bring natural gas produced by an Exxon Mobil ( XOM )-led

consortium to shore has been connected to two of the project's

floating production platforms, Exxon's head for Guyana was

reported as saying on Wednesday.

The "Gas-to-Energy" project by Guyana's government aims to

feed a 300-megawatts power plant and a natural gas liquids (NGL)

facility with gas produced at two Floating Production Storage

and Offloading (FPSO) facilities that are part of Exxon's

Stabroek block.

The 200-kilometer (124.3-mile) pipeline could be in service

by year end, Exxon Guyana chief Alistair Routledge told local

reporters, according to Newsroom Guyana.

The project, expected to help lower electricity costs

and reduce emissions once completed next year, will be the first

to take advantage of associated gas produced in the country.

Guyana has so far invested some $400 million in the

development.

The Exxon consortium, also integrated by China's CNOOC

and U.S. Hess, temporarily halted crude and

gas output at the platforms in the third quarter to allow the

pipeline connection.

"Risers have now been successfully connected to the

pipeline, and we have been conducting several tests and

de-watering exercises to ensure everything is functioning

correctly," Routledge said.