Piedmont Natural Gas selects Matrix Service to build North Carolina LNG facility

Duke Energy subsidiary Piedmont Natural Gas has chosen contractor Matrix Service Inc. to construct a liquefied natural gas facility on 60 acres of Robeson County, N.C.

“As an industry leader in low-temperature and cryogenic tanks and terminals, we are very pleased to have been awarded this important project,” John Hewitt, Matrix Service president and CEO, said. “We look forward to delivering this project safely, on time and on budget.”

Throughout construction, the facility is expected to create up to 150 jobs. When completed, between 10 and 12 permanent employees will be stationed there, managing operations that will generate more than $800,000 annually for the county’s tax revenue. The facility will have 1 billion cubic feet of storage. Its construction is expected to last into the summer of 2021.

“Our highest priority is the safety of our natural gas infrastructure, our communities and our employees,” Frank Yoho, president of natural gas operations at Duke Energy, said. “The contractor we selected had to share our emphasis on safety, offer proven excellence in this specialized construction, and commit to minimize disruption to our neighbors in Robeson County.”

Piedmont will be used to supply the coldest of peak usage days, guaranteeing enough natural gas to meet demand.