Alaska LNG project becomes $54bn flashpoint for would-be Asian buyers
US President Donald Trump said Taiwan had agreed to buy 30 per cent of the LNG from the long-planned Alaska LNG project, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Taiwan had committed $4.4 billion to develop the pipeline, with the terms of the deal not immediately clear. South Korea has rejected Trump's announcement of a $54 billion investment in Alaska LNG, saying it has given no firm commitment on the project. Developer Glenfarne Group estimates the project will cost between $44.5 billion and $54.5 billion, with first exports targeted for 2031, and only six non-binding offtake agreements totalling 13 million tonnes a year had been signed as of January.
Why it matters: The gap between announced and confirmed commitments bears directly on energy security, since South-East Asian buyers are seeking to diversify supply after the Iran war cut off shipments from the region.