Chris Fortenberry says the ongoing work at Port Arthur LNG is just the first step.
“We see that the energy demand across the world is continuing to grow, and we would like to play our part,” the vice president of operations said. “More importantly, we are participating in Southeast Texas, excited to be part of the community and to be able to grow with the community. This is one of the best areas I have seen in my career, just from the capability and competence of the workforce that is available to us here.”
Fortenberry recently spoke at the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Business Development Group Meeting.
He was updating a standing room only group of more than 100 professionals on the campus of Lamar State College Port Arthur.
According to company officials, the project’s Phase 1 includes two natural gas liquefaction trains, two liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks and associated facilities with a nameplate capacity of approximately 13 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). Total capital expenditures for the phase are estimated at $13 billion.
“We do have the vision to look beyond just the two trains and look to a second phase,” Fortenberry said. “This is something we are constantly thinking about and working on. Even beyond that, there are a lot of ideas about where we can take this area in Port Arthur.”
LOCAL WORKFORCE
Port Arthur LNG officials are looking to transition into operation of the facility sometime in 2027. Bechtel is leading construction at the Sabine Pass site.
Company officials said approximately 200 full-time Port Arthur LNG employees would work at the facility when it is complete.
Now, site leaders are turning their attention to hiring an initial group of interns, an “exciting” development, according to Fortenberry.
“We’ve been kind of cooking up this program for quite some time and looking for an opportunity to see how we can participate in bringing on new talent and helping the college and some of the student base get an experience of what it is like to work in LNG,” he said.
“We have a pretty exciting program cooked up for them this summer so they can learn a lot about LNG and actually see LNG operations in motion. We have agreements with some other LNG operators that we are partnered with to provide real experiences on an operating site. It should be a good time for students who are interested in the program.”
Port Arthur LNG officials will interview prospective Lamar State College Port Arthur applicants March 17 and March 20.
Fortenberry also shared with the business community that there is a long list of the contract services the company needs to keep the facility operating, which will provide future opportunities for local partnerships.
These include HVAC services, equipment suppliers, maintenance services and lawn and grounds maintenance. Painters, scaffold builders and instrument techs were also mentioned.
“If y’all have been down there and seen the facility, we have a 21-foot berm that surrounds the entire perimeter of our facility,” Fortenberry said. “It’s flood protection, because we are in a hurricane-affected zone. It has this nice pretty grass on the side of it. That’s four miles of grass we must cut. We’re looking for those services, as well. So, please sign up.”
More information is available here.
