Tragedy Strikes at Texas LNG Plant: Three Workers Killed in Scaffold Collapse
On Tuesday, a devastating accident occurred at an LNG export terminal in Texas, claiming the lives of three workers. The incident took place at Sempra’s Port Arthur LNG plant, located about 90 miles east of Houston.
Shortly after 0200 hours local time, a scaffold surrounding a newly constructed concrete LNG containment tank collapsed, causing three workers to fall several stories to their deaths. Two other workers sustained injuries and were stranded on the scaffold, but have since been treated and released from the hospital.
The victims of this tragic accident have been identified as Felipe Mendez, 25; Felix Lopez, 42; and Dontrell Magee, 41. Magee, who was initially found alive at the scene, tragically passed away later at the hospital, as reported by local media outlets.
Following the incident, contractor Bechtel has temporarily suspended work at the Port Arthur LNG plant for an internal review. The company has also sent on-site tradesmen back to their families and pledged to cooperate fully with authorities in the ensuing investigation. According to Bechtel’s statement, the collapse was attributed to a “tank jump form system incident.”
Images from the site depict a section of the scaffold hanging precariously from the structure, still attached on one side, illustrating the severity of the accident.
The Port Arthur LNG project, which commenced construction on its first phase in 2023, is a massive endeavor slated for completion in 2027-2028. With thousands of workers involved, the project aims to house two liquefaction trains with an export capacity of 13 million tonnes per annum.
Situated along the Sabine-Neches Ship Channel, adjacent to Golden Pass LNG and Sabine Pass LNG, the facility has already secured long-term contracts with major energy players such as ConocoPhillips, RWE, PKN Orlen, INEOS, and Engie for its entire production capacity.