It’s a historic day for southwest Louisiana as state and local officials break ground on a $17.5 billion LNG project that will be built and operated by Woodside Energy Group. The liquified natural gas production and export facility in Calcasieu is called Louisiana LNG. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Judd Bares says Louisiana LNG is expected to generate significant economic growth.
“This right here just adds to the reason why you don’t have to leave here for a good job,” Bares said.
The state economic development department says the project will support thousands of jobs during the construction phase as well as thousands more once operational. Bares says Calcasieu is ready to supply the workforce.
“We’ve got a well-trained workforce. McNeese has a center for LNG excellence. Sowela, the technical school here. Everybody’s starting to gear up or these big projects,” Bares said.
Governor Landry says this is the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana history. Once operational in 2029, Louisiana LNG will produce up to 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per year. Louisiana already has four operational LNG export terminals. Bares says southwest Louisiana is the place for LNG because of all of the natural gas pipelines plus location.
“The location with the deepwater port, the ship channel, our proximity to I-10, the I-10 corridor and then the infrastructure in the ground already,” Bares said.
The groundbreaking ceremony will be at around 10 AM.
