By Abdullahi Lukman
U.S. officials are urging Japan and South Korea to formalize their support for a $44 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska, a key component of President Trump’s energy agenda.
The project, known as Alaska L.N.G., aims to transport natural gas from northern Alaska to major Asian markets. Its success is contingent on securing backing from countries in Asia, which are some of the world’s largest consumers of LNG.
The National Energy Dominance Council, a group advising President Trump on energy matters, is working to arrange a summit in Alaska on June 2, where trade officials from Japan and South Korea will be encouraged to sign letters of intent to either invest in the project or purchase LNG.
Taiwan has already signed a similar letter of intent to buy gas from Alaska L.N.G. last month.
Although the project has been under consideration for over a decade, it has gained renewed attention due to its central role in the Trump administration’s efforts to increase U.S. fossil fuel exports.
The Alaska L.N.G. initiative had initially been seen as a long shot but now holds significant weight in reshaping the U.S. energy landscape.
Despite the push for commitments, the White House and the trade ministries of Japan and South Korea have not responded to requests for comment.
The project’s future depends on the formal agreements expected to be reached at the upcoming summit.