Port Arthur News
Published August 01, 2006 01:09 pm -

After more than two years in the planning and permitting process, construction is ready to begin on the Golden Pass LNG project, bringing more than 1,000 jobs to the Port Arthur area over the next three years.

Tom Burger, vice president of development and operations for Golden Pass LNG LLC, made the announcement Tuesday that the company has awarded a lump-sum turnkey contract to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company for a liquefied natural gas terminal to be built near Sabine Pass.

The contract with CB&I brings the investment in the project up to $1 billion, and during the peak of the three-year construction period is expected to provide job opportunities for locally-based subcontractors and suppliers and thousands of local laborers.

We are very happy and excited to continue the economic development and vitality of Southeast Texas, Burger said.

Golden Pass LNG LLC will be 70 percent owned by an affiliate of Qatar Petroleum, with affiliates of ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips each owning a share in the project.

CB&I will handle engineering, procurement and construction of the facility that will provide 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to Southeast Texas and other markets.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2009.