Matrix Service to build Piedmont’s LNG facility in North Carolina

Piedmont Natural Gas has awarded a contract to Matrix Service to construct its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Robeson County, North Carolina, US.

The facility has a projected storage capacity of one billion-cubic-feet (Bcf). It will enable the company to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas during peak usage days.

Extremely low temperatures cause an increase in demand for natural gas. Through the Robeson County facility, the company intends to serve around 100,000 homes on a cold day.

The facility will be constructed on an area covering around 60 acres of a 685-acre area owned by Piedmont.

Piedmont Natural Gas is a subsidiary of Duke Energy, which owns an integrated network of energy assets.

Duke Energy natural gas operations president Frank Yoho said: “Our highest priority is the safety of our natural gas infrastructure, our communities and our employees.

“The contractor we selected had to share our emphasis on safety, offer proven excellence in this specialised construction, and commit to minimising disruption to our neighbours in Robeson County.”

Piedmont expects construction of the facility to start this month with completion anticipated in mid-2021.

With an estimated development cost of $250m, the project is expected to generate up to 150 jobs during construction.

Matrix Service Company president and CEO John Hewitt said: “As an industry leader in low-temperature and cryogenic tanks and terminals, we are very pleased to have been awarded this important project.

“We look forward to delivering this project safely, on time and on budget.”

The proposed facility will be the fourth LNG facility to be owned and operated by Piedmont.

The remaining three facilities are located in Tennessee and North Carolina.