Michael Smith founded Freeport LNG Development, L.P in 2002 and is the company’s Chairman, CEO and majority shareholder. Freeport LNG Development, L.P. owns and operates an LNG terminal on Quintana Island, near Freeport, Texas. The terminal started LNG import operations in June 2008. In 2019, Freeport LNG will begin LNG export operations. Up to 15 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG will be produced from three natural gas liquefaction trains. A fourth liquefaction train is under development with an expected start date of 2023. Of the 15 mtpa of export capacity, 13.4 mtpa has been sold to Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., JERA Co., Inc., BP Energy Company, Toshiba Corporation and SK E&S LNG, LLC. Mr. Smith previously founded Basin Exploration, Inc. in 1981 and served as its Chairman, CEO and President. Basin was a publicly traded oil and gas company active in the Gulf of Mexico and the Rocky Mountain Region. Mr. Smith successfully negotiated the sale of the company to Stone Energy in February 2001 in a $410 million stock for stock merger. Mr. Smith was past president of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association and was previously a member of the State of Colorado Governor’s Minerals, Energy & Geology Policy Advisory Board.