April 20 (Reuters) - Phillips 66 and Kinder

Morgan ( KMI ) have secured enough long-term shipper commitments

to move forward with a proposed pipeline project to supply fuel

to Arizona and California, they said on Monday.

The Western Gateway Pipeline project comes as companies race

to build a major new fuel pipeline to the U.S. West Coast ahead

of planned refinery closures in California, a relatively

isolated fuel market with limited pipeline links to major

refining hubs, leaving it vulnerable to supply disruptions and

price spikes.

Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan ( KMI ) began seeking initial shipper

commitments in October for the proposed pipeline system that

would carry fuel from a Texas refining hub to Arizona and

California.

The companies have not disclosed the cost of the project.

The refined products pipeline system is designed to link

Midwest and Gulf Coast refinery supply to Phoenix, Arizona, and

California markets, with connectivity to Las Vegas through

Kinder Morgan's ( KMI ) CALNEV Pipeline.

The project includes a new pipeline from Borger, Texas, to

Phoenix, as well as the reversal of Kinder Morgan's ( KMI ) existing

pipeline between Colton, California, and Phoenix to allow

east-to-west flows into California. Phillips 66's Gold Pipeline,

which currently runs from Borger to St. Louis, will also be

reversed to supply the system.

The project is slated to begin service in mid-2029.