A tragic accident at the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 construction site in Texas has claimed the lives of three workers and left two others injured.
The incident occurred early Tuesday morning during work on a tank jump form system at elevation, according to a statement from Bechtel, the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the loss of three colleagues and injuries to two others,” Bechtel said. “Our thoughts are with their families and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Following the incident, all work at the site was halted immediately, and construction workers were sent home. Bechtel said it is fully cooperating with local authorities as investigations are underway, and the company has also launched its own internal review.
The Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project, being developed by Sempra Infrastructure in partnership with ConocoPhillips, is a $13 billion initiative currently under construction. It includes two liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of approximately 13 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), along with two LNG storage tanks and related infrastructure. The project reached a final investment decision in March 2023, with initial operations planned for 2027 (Train 1) and 2028 (Train 2).
It remains unclear whether the accident will affect the project’s timeline. Bechtel emphasized that “supporting those impacted and ensuring site safety remain our top priorities.”
Sempra has yet to issue a public comment. Meanwhile, Bechtel was also awarded a separate EPC contract in 2023 for the planned Phase 2 expansion, which would double the facility’s liquefaction capacity to about 26 mtpa.
The Phase 1 project has long-term offtake agreements with several major companies, including ConocoPhillips, RWE, PKN Orlen, Ineos, and Engie. Sempra and Saudi Aramco have also signed a non-binding agreement for a potential equity stake and LNG purchase from Phase 2.
More updates are expected as investigations continue.
