A view of Alaska (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) —At least two South Korean companies are among the early contenders to partner in one of the largest energy infrastructure initiatives in North America: the Alaska LNG project, a $44 billion liquefied natural gas endeavor led by U.S. energy firm Glenfarne Group.
Glenfarne, which is spearheading the project through its subsidiary Glenfarne Alaska LNG LLC, confirmed Wednesday that over 50 companies from around the globe — including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, India, the European Union, and the U.S. — participated in the initial phase of its strategic partner selection process.
While Glenfarne declined to disclose the full list of participants, it noted that potential partners have expressed formal interest across a broad spectrum of involvement — from supplying critical materials and equipment to offering engineering services, making direct investments, and signing long-term purchase agreements. The total value of these combined partnership interests is estimated at $115 billion, underscoring the project’s global scale and strategic weight.
The Alaska LNG project envisions the construction of a 1,300-kilometer pipeline stretching from the North Slope — home to one of the largest proven natural gas reserves in the United States — to southern Alaska, where the gas will be processed and exported to global markets. Once completed, it is expected to serve as a major hub for U.S. energy exports to Asia.
Washington has been actively encouraging Seoul and other Asian allies to get behind the project, which aligns with U.S. goals of expanding its energy influence in the Indo-Pacific and reducing dependency on adversarial suppliers.
In Seoul, government officials are reportedly considering participation in the Alaska LNG initiative as part of a broader strategy tied to ongoing trade talks with the United States — particularly amid sensitive negotiations over tariffs and economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, a South Korean delegation — including officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and state-run Korea Gas Corporation — is currently in Anchorage at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, following an official invitation from Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy.
For South Korea, a nation heavily reliant on energy imports, the project presents a rare opportunity to deepen energy security, diversify supply routes, and secure strategic footing in a long-term American-led venture. But with geopolitical and economic factors still in flux, Seoul’s next moves will be closely watched — both in Washington and across the global energy market.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
