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.

The upgraded 112,000-square-foot facility can fit up to C-5-size aircraft and features an unobstructed interior, LED lighting and large-diameter fans. Hangar H also has an additional 6,000 square feet of office space.

It’s being leased by AAR Aircraft Services, the largest maintenance, repair and overhaul provider in the United States. The new hangar will allow AAR to perform wide-body aircraft work, said Donald Wetekam, senior vice president of AAR.

“This is big for Chennault,” said Randy Robb, executive director at Chennault. “This is what allowed us to attract AAR to Lake Charles.”

The project was jointly funded by the state of Louisiana, which put up $17.5 million, and Chennault, which funded the remaining $4 million.

http://www.americanpress.com/Chennault-opens--21-5-million-new-hangar

Chennault International Airport has received a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help rehabilitate its runway.

The grant, announced Thursday afternoon, will fund the first two of three phases. Phase 1 included preparing the land and drainage and reinforcing the outside of the taxiway. Phase two involves making sure the taxiway is strong enough for asphalt, Robb said, and phase three involves the overlay. The grant allows Chennault to continue construction without time lapses in between phases.

And as Southwest Louisiana continues to prepare for billions of dollars in industrial investment, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, said, the region needs an airport infrastructure that can handle a new level of industrial activity.