Tellurian $1 Million Donation Presented to  LNG Center at LNG Day 

Tellurian recently made a $1 million pledge in support of the LNG Center of Excellence at McNeese State University. A portion of these funds will be used to provide students with scholarships for the new McNeese LNG Business Certificate. Tellurian presented the donation during the annual McNeese LNG Day on Oct. 3, where a panel composed of three executives discussed the LNG industry and career opportunities with students.   

Southwest Louisiana has become the epicenter of the American liquified natural gas (LNG) industry. The LNG Center and the LNG Certificate will help provide a pipeline of skilled workers for LNG plants. Through classes, hands-on training and mentorship and intern programs, students will have the opportunity to learn and work in this globally significant industry. Additionally, the Center will work alongside industry to catalogue best practices and help facilitate research. It will establish McNeese as a thought leader in the LNG space, attracting key national and international leaders to campus. 

“Tellurian’s generous support takes us one step closer to making this transformative project a reality. We thank the company for their leadership, commitment of resources and their vision to see what this Center can mean for industry and the Southwest Louisiana community,” said Dr. Daryl Burckel, McNeese State University president.  

“Tellurian is proud to support this important effort. Southwest Louisiana is now a critical part of the global LNG industry. It deserves a robust Center that creates opportunities for its students and establishes the entire region as the Capital of LNG,” added Samik Mukherjee, Tellurian executive vice president and Driftwood Assets president, and one of the LNG Day Panelists.  

Mukherjee is responsible for Tellurian’s asset projects including the construction and operations of gas pipelines and Driftwood LNG production and export terminal. Joining him on the LNG Day panel were Joi Lecznar, Tellurian executive vice president of public and government affairs and Joey Mahmoud, Tellurian senior vice president of Tellurian Pipeline Development and Driftwood Pipeline LLC president.  

Lecznar is responsible for communication, including public relations and media, as well as federal and state government affairs. Mahmoud leads the development, execution and operation of the Tellurian and Driftwood pipeline assets to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable delivery of natural gas from the various production basins to the Driftwood LNG facility.  

The LNG Center of Excellence is a $13 million, 24,000-foot complex and will be located on Sale Road near Ryan Street. Construction begins this year and is expected to take 15 months to complete.  

McNeese’s College of Business offers the LNG Business Certificate as an 18-credit hour certificate. It is a collaboration between the College of Business and the Department of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Both the LNG Center and the LNG Certificate align with McNeese’s mission to serve the employers of the region by providing distinctive programs integrated with business and industry.