Trump relaunches Alaskan pipeline project for Asia

Donald Trump confirmed his intention to finalise a major pipeline project in Alaska, aiming to supply natural gas to Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. The project, one of the largest in the world, could strengthen the region's energy supply.

Share:

On March 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to relaunch a major pipeline project in Alaska, designed to deliver natural gas to Asia. In his speech before Congress, he stated that this project, among the largest in the world, would provide gas to Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries. According to Trump, “everything is ready” for the launch, and his administration is currently in discussions to make the project a reality.

A project discussed with Japan

The pipeline project was first mentioned by Trump in February 2025 during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ushiba. On that occasion, Trump stated that Japan had committed to purchasing record amounts of U.S. natural gas. The American president emphasised that Alaska was the ideal starting point to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, due to its geographical proximity. The project aims to strengthen energy cooperation between the United States and Asian countries, particularly concerning LNG supply.

An enhanced energy strategy

This initiative is part of a series of measures taken by Trump to increase hydrocarbon production in the United States. Upon his return to power, the president declared a state of “energy emergency” and signed an executive order to overturn the ban on new drilling in certain offshore areas, a decision made by his predecessor, Barack Obama. Alaska, in particular, was one of the areas affected by this ban. However, environmental groups have contested this move in court, arguing that Trump did not have the necessary authority to overturn these protections without Congressional approval.

Growing interest from Asian countries

Beyond Japan, several other Asian countries, including the Philippines, have expressed interest in receiving liquefied natural gas from Alaska. Trump indicated that these countries have committed to making “trillions of dollars” in investments each in the project. However, to date, no foreign government has confirmed these investments, and no specific details have been disclosed regarding the financial participation of the concerned countries.

Italian group Eni signs a twenty-year liquefied natural gas supply contract with US-based Venture Global, covering two mn tonnes per year and marking a first for the company from the United States.
The Voskhod vessel, under US sanctions, docked at the Arctic LNG 2 plant in Russia, marking the second visit by a sanctioned ship to the site this year, according to maritime tracking data.
Japan has urgently secured several additional cargoes of liquefied natural gas from the United States to avert an imminent electricity supply shortage caused by rapidly declining national reserves expected at the end of July.
The European Commission has unveiled a proposal to prohibit the import of Russian gas into the Union, sparking intense debate on its feasibility, contractual impact and consequences for supply security among several Member States.
CNOOC Limited announces the discovery of a significant oil and gas reservoir in the buried hills of the Beibu Gulf, opening new opportunities for shallow water exploration off the coast of China.
TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG gas project is at the centre of a legal challenge in Washington, following the approval of a $4.7 bn loan by the US Exim Bank, amid security concerns and opposition from civil society groups.
Investors are closely watching U.S. midstream companies’ announcements regarding new gas pipeline expansions targeting promising markets in the West and Northeast, beyond traditional regions in Texas and the Southeast.
PPL Corporation and Blackstone Infrastructure announce a strategic partnership to develop new gas-fired power plants to supply electricity to data centers through long-term contracts in Pennsylvania.
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd announces a new record initial flow test result at the Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 well and the start of its 2025 drilling campaign in the Beetaloo Basin.
The Azule Energy consortium has identified a significant gas and condensate field during Angola’s first exploration drilling dedicated to gas, marking a milestone for the country's energy sector.
Technip Energies has secured a contract to lead preparatory works for a floating liquefied natural gas unit in Africa, confirming its presence in the international gas infrastructure market.
The Slovak government is seeking guarantees from the European Union to secure its supplies as talks continue over ending Russian gas and adopting a new round of sanctions.
ArcLight Capital Partners announces the acquisition of Middletown Energy Center, a combined-cycle natural gas power plant, aimed at meeting the substantial rise in energy demand from data centers and digital infrastructure in Ohio.
The commissioning of LNG Canada, the first major Canadian liquefied natural gas export facility led by Shell, has not yet triggered the anticipated rise in natural gas prices in western Canada, still facing persistent oversupply.
Horizon Petroleum Ltd. is advancing towards the production launch of the Lachowice 7 gas well in Poland, having secured necessary permits and completed preliminary works to commence operations as early as next August.
European Union member states have requested to keep their national strategies for phasing out Russian gas by 2027 confidential, citing security concerns and market disruption risks, according to a document revealed by Reuters.
TotalEnergies becomes a member of PJM Interconnection, expanding its trading capabilities in North America's largest wholesale electricity market. The decision strengthens the company's presence in the United States.
Turkey has connected its gas grid to Syria’s and plans to begin supplying gas for power generation in the coming weeks, according to Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Despite record electricity demand, China sees no significant increase in LNG purchases due to high prices and available alternative supplies.
US natural gas production and consumption are expected to reach record highs in 2025, before slightly declining the following year, according to the latest forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration.