Australian-based Woodside Energy says it wants to be an outstanding community partner as it builds a $17.5 billion liquefied natural gas facility in Calcasieu Parish near Sulphur. Chief Operating Officer Daniel Kalms says Louisiana LNG will be a huge contributor to U.S. LNG exports, which will strengthen global energy security and generate billions of dollars in local and national revenues.
“We’re really pleased to be investing in Louisiana. We appreciate the support we’ve had from the community, and also from the state. And we’re really looking forward to having a positive impact in the community,” Kalms said.
Construction is already underway. The project calls for the construction of three LNG trains with the first one scheduled to be completed in 2029. Kalms says they already have 900 people working at the site and the construction workforce will grow to 4,400. He says they are also working with local contractors.
“To date, we’ve already contracted for about $500 million worth of work with about 130 Louisiana businesses,” Kalms confirmed.
Woodside Energy made its final investment decision last April. It’s their first LNG plant in America and it will Louisiana’s fifth operating LNG facility. Demand for U.S. natural gas from Europe and Asia has grown since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kalms says they expect global demand for LNG to grow, and southwest Louisiana is the place to produce it.
“In this part of the country, you’ve got a really highly qualified work force. You’ve got really capable contractors, and you’re set up really well to access world markets with a product like liquified natural gas,” Kalms explained.
