The Alaska LNG project took a step into the spotlight after former U.S. President Donald Trump said Taiwan had agreed to buy 30% of the gas to be produced by the Alaska LNG project for the next two decades.
“Taiwan has just agreed to buy 30% of the gas coming off the pipeline for the next 20 years,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Alaska, adding that the commitment would guarantee the venture’s success. He did not provide contract details, and the terms of the deal were not immediately clear, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Trump’s comments follow his repeated assertions this month that South Korea had agreed to participate in the estimated $50 billion project, even as Seoul has said its involvement is not finalized. He also said the U.S. would invest $4.4 billion in addition to what he described as $50 billion already committed by South Korea to Alaska. The specifics of those figures have not been clarified.
Last year, Taiwan’s state-owned CPC Corp was reported to have reached a preliminary agreement with Alaska Gasline Development Corp to purchase liquefied natural gas and explore investment in the pipeline, underscoring the island’s push to secure long-term fuel supplies.
Alaska LNG project timeline and regional energy demand
Developer Glenfarne told the U.S. government in a filing this month that the Alaska LNG project aims to deliver first gas in 2029. The pipeline and liquefaction plan has drawn international interest as Asia’s demand center looks for stable supply.
Taiwan, home to semiconductor leader TSMC, has seen energy needs rise alongside AI-driven growth. The island imports more than 90% of its energy, and its economic affairs ministry recently projected average electricity demand growth of about 2.5% a year through 2035, which it said would outpace Japan and South Korea. The self-ruled island is also awaiting major new U.S. arms sales, while Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory.
Questions over South Korea’s role
Trump has stepped up public pressure on South Korea regarding participation in the Alaska LNG project, warning this month that he would charge the country more and suggesting the charges could be doubled if Seoul did not sign soon. He did not specify what charges he meant, prompting speculation in South Korean media that he was referring to tariffs.
The White House, Taiwan’s energy ministry and CPC Corp did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported Taiwan purchase or the project’s financing details.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory, even as China EU trade talks seek fixes to widening imbalances between the world’s second-largest economy and its major partners.
Taiwan’s economic affairs ministry, which oversees energy policy and planning, provides additional information on power demand and fuel procurement on the official ministry website.
