<span class="R~sep~EdDropCapPressEd">I</span><span class="R~sep~EdDropCapPressEd">f you’re wondering where to find the industrial expansion going on in Southwest Louisiana, look no further than Hackberry where construction on the Cameron LNG project is well underway.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">The project consists of building three liquefaction trains, the size of which make them hard to miss.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">Over the last two years or so, residents have heard one announcement after another of industrial projects coming to Lake Charles with price tags in the millions or billions of dollars. But Julie Nelson, spokeswoman for Cameron LNG, said theirs is the only one under construction.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">Nelson said work on the liquefaction trains started about two years ago and should wrap up by 2018, barring any delays.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">Currently, more than 4,500 construction workers are working on the Cameron LNG expansion project. Nelson said most of the workers are sought from the local area and are trained to make sure the work is done safely.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">Even though the construction won’t end for another two years, the company is already seeking operators, mechanical technicians and instrument techs to fill experienced positions once it opens. Anyone who is interested can apply for certain positions online.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">Sempra LNG &amp; Midstream — a company based out of San Diego that is supporting the project — issued a quarterly report in July that mentioned the risks associated with building high-dollar projects. So far, none of the problems, like higher costs or lengthy construction delays, have been reported.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">There have been some hiccups along the way, however. One of the partners decided in July that they don’t want to “invest additional capital” for another phase of construction that calls for two more liquefaction trains and a tank, the report stated.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">There are still some steps left. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved building the additional trains in May, and the Department of Energy in June approved exporting to countries that don’t have free-trade agreements with the U.S.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">One hurdle that hasn’t been cleared is getting unanimous consent from all partners involved, according to the Sempra report. If that isn’t done, the project could see delays, with the final investment decision not happening until after the first half of 2017.</span>

<span class="R~sep~EdPressedtext">While it’s hard to ignore the large liquefaction trains being built in Hackberry, it’s clear that some work remains before the Cameron LNG expansion project is done. Right now, as crews continue work on the three trains, we will have to wait and see if all of the partners will be on board with continued expansion of the facility.</span>