Cheniere Energy Partners says it will spend $6 billion to modify its liquefied natural gas terminal in southwest Louisiana to export natural gas. Houston-based Cheniere announced the project in May. Today the company said the project would create 148 new jobs, retain 77 current jobs and provide 3,000 peak construction jobs.
Gov. Bobby Jindal says the state is providing an economic package including industrial tax exemptions and a program that gives companies rebates for creating high-paying jobs. The jobs at the LNG terminal will have an average salary plus benefits of $100,000 a year. Cheniere plans to begin construction next year on modifying the terminal and hopes to be exporting natural gas in 2015. This will be the first dual importer and supplier of LNG. The terminal in Cameron Parish was originally built to import LNG when natural gas supplies were much lower.
