Trump says Taiwan agrees to buy 30% of LNG from Alaska pipeline project
Taiwan's economy ministry, which oversees energy policy, had no immediate comment.
Taiwan has agreed to buy 30% of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a pipeline project in Alaska, US President Donald Trump told a rally in the state yesterday (13 October), although the terms of the deal were not immediately clear.
Taiwan has committed to investing $4.4 billion in the development of the pipeline, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said at the rally, organised by the Republican National Committee.
Taiwan's economy ministry, which oversees energy policy, had no immediate comment.
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Asked about Trump's remarks, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters that the government's responsibility was to "stabilise the entire energy supply and build its resilience, like governments everywhere".
Trump's remarks came after Taiwanese officials said in February that they would increase purchases of US natural gas to account for about a third of the island's imported supply this year, while reducing purchases from other countries.
Taiwan's state-owned energy firm CPC Corp signed an agreement with Alaska Gasline Development Corp last year to buy LNG and invest in the pipeline project.
The investment would help ensure Taiwan's energy security, President Lai Ching-te said at the time.
Last year, Taiwan Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an visited the proposed LNG project's site in Alaska. The Trump administration has been actively promoting the project to allies in Asia as a potential source of energy supplies.
If built, the Alaska LNG project would export up to 20 million metric tonnes of the supercooled gas annually.
It would provide direct access for US-produced LNG to Asian markets, including Taiwan, without requiring shipments to pass through the Panama Canal or travel around the Horn of Africa, reducing transit times and costs.
Taiwan has pledged to significantly increase purchases from the United States, including energy, to reduce its substantial trade surplus with the country, which has angered Washington.
Trump said last month that South Korea had agreed to invest in the $54 billion Alaska LNG pipeline project. However, Seoul said the arrangement had not yet been finalised.
