A planned $20 billion, multiphase terminal in Cameron Parish is within weeks of cranking out liquefied natural gas onto ships bound for foreign markets, potentially the first of many facilities that could propel the U.S. to become the world’s third-largest LNG exporter by 2020.

It wasn’t too many years ago nearly a dozen facilities were built in the lower 48 states to “import” liquefied natural gas bound for utilities and industries clamoring for cheaper natural gas as a fuel source or raw material for products they make.

Then came a technology-driven drilling boom in the U.S. that produced a glut of natural gas — also oil — and took the shine off those facilities’ plans to import LNG.

Now, work is underway to transform four of those import facilities — including two in Louisiana — so they can export U.S.-produced natural gas.

Stay tuned for more developments on LNG terminals and liquefied natural gas in southern Louisiana.