Trump's LNG Deal with South Korea Sparks Skepticism
President Donald Trump announced that he had secured a deal with South Korea to spend $54 billion on a long-desired Alaska natural gas pipeline project, part of a $200 billion package of investments. However, South Korea's trade minister quickly shot down the claim, saying the government is simply reviewing the project and will proceed 'only if its commercial viability is established.'
Trump spoke highly of the project, stating it would create up to 12,000 construction jobs immediately and 1,000 operational jobs. It would also save Alaska households up to $1,500 a year in energy costs.
The proposal involves shipping gas from the North Slope through an 807-mile pipeline to tidewater at Southcentral Alaska's Cook Inlet, where it would be liquefied and put on tankers for shipment to Asian markets. The project has been stalled for decades due to geographic distance and costs.