The first tanker carrying liquefied natural gas is expected to arrive at a new $1.1 billion terminal along the Mississippi coast early this summer.

Currently, the final phase of construction is under way at the Gulf LNG terminal, located southeast of Pascagoula.

Terminal spokesman Bill Baerg said the first transport will commission the plant with LNG — natural gas that has been chilled and condensed to a liquid for movement and storage.

Full operations are expected to begin around October. Plans are for the terminal to handle about 150 ships per year.