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Sabine Pass -
Symphony of Southeast Texas 2023-24
Port Arthur LNG, a development of Sempra Infrastructure Partners, LP (Sempra Infrastructure), hosted an informational open house at Sabine Pass School, giving local residents, elected officials and community leaders an opportunity to connect with the project’s representatives on community investment topics including local vendor, contractor and hiring opportunities.
Sempra Infrastructure reached a positive final investment decision (FID) for the development, construction and operation of its Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project on March 20. The company has contracted with global engineering, construction and project management firm Bechtel Energy Inc. (Bechtel Energy) and has issued a final notice to proceed for the project.
The event, which was titled Constructive Conversations – a Port Arthur LNG Informational Open House, provided stations staffed with representatives from both Sempra Infrastructure and Bechtel Energy to address questions community members had about various aspects of the construction of the project. In addition, several nonprofit and community organizations were on-hand to showcase efforts that are underway as part of Port Arthur LNG’s Community Partnership Program.
Sempra Infrastructure has been working in Port Arthur since 2015 to develop the liquefaction project and has invested more than $2 million in Jefferson County communities with over 60 organizations to-date.
During the event, Sempra Infrastructure’s president of LNG and Net Zero Solutions, Martin Hupka reaffirmed the company’s commitment to local hiring and procurement. Hupka announced Port Arthur LNG’s new Workforce Readiness and Development Initiative with an initial pledge of $500,000 that would be spent with local schools, educational institutions and workforce agencies that are helping create pathways to employment opportunities with companies like Port Arthur LNG.
“Sempra Infrastructure is committed to putting our energy behind efforts that help our community partners in education bolster training and skills development, as well as attract, retain, develop and engage superior talent,” said Hupka.
Hupka then presented Sabine Pass ISD Superintendent Kristi Heid the first school district grant award, as part of Port Arthur LNG’s Workforce Readiness and Development Initiative.
“We’d like to present Sabine Pass ISD with a $50,000 grant in support of your new School Career and Technology Center,” said Hupka.“Your students are our future workforce and through partnerships like these, we will develop our next generation of collaborators, innovators and agents of change.”
The funds will help underwrite Sabine Pass ISD’s Z-Space Technology, which will deliver immersive and interactive learning experiences to students at its School Career and Technology Center.
Bechtel Energy President Paul Marsden highlighted several new partnerships with area schools and Lamar State College-Port Arthur offering comprehensive training programs in trade professions.
“We are invested in building the skilled craft workforce of the future. We know early engagement is key and provides results. These new programs at Port Arthur ISD and large-scale projects like Port Arthur LNG create approximately 5,000 highly skilled jobs at peak construction, the company advised.