U.S. President Donald Trump’s National Energy Security Council is set to host a summit in Alaska in early June, aiming to secure commitments from Japan and South Korea for the ambitious $44 billion Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, a source familiar with the plans revealed on Thursday.
The project, which seeks to deliver natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope via an 800-mile pipeline, has long been discussed but has faced obstacles, including high costs and the scale of the work required. Once completed, the project would provide LNG for domestic use and export it to Asian markets, circumventing the Panama Canal.
Trump has been a vocal advocate for the Alaska LNG project, which he sees as crucial for boosting U.S. energy exports. The administration has actively pushed for allies to invest in American energy resources, even coupling this push with threats of trade tariffs. The president recently reached out to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, urging support for the Alaskan project.
In a move signaling growing international interest, Taiwanese state energy company CPC Corp. signed a non-binding agreement with the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. last month. The agreement promises to buy LNG from the project and invest in its development, a step that Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te hailed as vital for ensuring the island’s energy security.
The summit, slated for June 2, marks a significant step in the Trump administration’s push for energy dominance, with the National Energy Dominance Council aiming to maximize U.S. oil and gas production. This initiative has gained attention, as officials from Thailand and South Korea are also expected to visit Alaska in the coming weeks to discuss the project, with some of these visits marking the first direct engagement with Alaska under Trump’s second term.
South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun cast some doubt on the timeline, stating that his country’s commitment to the project remains uncertain. Ahn emphasized that much work remains to be done to evaluate the project’s feasibility, including due diligence and the dispatch of an inspection team to Alaska. “There are still a lot of things that need to be done,” Ahn remarked, noting that the outcome of these efforts would shape future discussions.
The summit and ongoing international discussions could prove pivotal in advancing the Alaska LNG project, though key hurdles, such as cost and regulatory approval, remain in play.
Neither the White House nor the Interior Department responded immediately to requests for comment on the planned summit.
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