Anabelle Colaco
04 Oct 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C.: South Korea plans to invest US$200 billion in U.S. projects spanning liquefied natural gas, nuclear power and electricity generation, with $54 billion earmarked for the long-planned Alaska LNG project, a White House official said.

The investments represent the first major projects under a broader $350 billion strategic investment package South Korea agreed to as part of a trade deal with Washington last year. That package comprises $150 billion for shipbuilding and $200 billion for strategic investments.

The White House official said the investments would include the Alaska LNG pipeline project, eight large-scale nuclear power plants and a 6-gigawatt power generation facility in Texas.

"Today, President Trump will announce major energy infrastructure investments that deliver on his day one promises to unleash American energy, unlock Alaska's extraordinary resource potential, and accelerate America's nuclear energy renaissance," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said.

The Alaska LNG project would involve an 807-mile pipeline carrying natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to a liquefaction facility on the state's southern coast, allowing the fuel to be exported to Asian markets.

The project is designed to transport about 3.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and produce up to 20 million metric tons of LNG annually, according to the White House.

The project has faced years of uncertainty over its cost, financing, and commercial viability. South Korea's investment could provide a potential source of financing, although Seoul has previously said projects included in its U.S. investment package must meet commercial viability standards.

South Korean opposition lawmakers have also raised concerns about the commercial viability and fiscal risks of investments in U.S. projects.

"Before considering political needs or diplomatic demands, however, it was necessary to thoroughly verify the commercial rationale and viability of any investment that put a tremendous burden on the public," Kim Sung-won, a South Korean lawmaker who chairs parliament's trade committee, told Reuters on September 30.

South Korea's industry ministry said last week that a more-than-6-gigawatt gas-fired power plant in Encinal, Texas, was the first project selected under the $200 billion strategic investment program. The ministry was also considering eight large nuclear reactors and the Alaska LNG project.

Japan's two largest LNG importers, JERA and Tokyo Gas, have signed preliminary agreements to buy a combined 2 million metric tons annually from Alaska LNG if the project is built.

Glenfarne, the project's developer, said in March it had secured commitments for 13 million tons annually but needed another three million tons to obtain financing and make all commitments binding. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the plan for September 30.

The eight nuclear plants would be part of Trump's effort to expand U.S. nuclear power generation as electricity demand increases, driven by data centers and manufacturing.

The Texas gas-fired power project is expected to provide electricity to energy-intensive facilities, including semiconductor plants and data centers. South Korean officials have said the project was selected following reviews of its commercial viability.