US URGES JAPAN, S KOREA TO BACK ALASKA GAS PROJECT

The $44bn project is centrepiece of President Trump’s energy agenda. By River Davis

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Officials in the United States are urging Japan and South Korea to make a formal commitment within the next few weeks to a $44 billion natural gas project in Alaska.

The effort, known as Alaska LNG, is a centrepiece of President Donald Trump's energy agenda and aims to ship gas from northern Alaska in a liquefied form to nations in Asia. Its feasibility hinges on securing backing from the region, home to some of the world's largest purchasers of liquefied natural gas.

A group created by Mr Trump that is advising him on domestic energy production, the National Energy Dominance Council, is seeking to convene officials from the trade ministries of both Japan and South Korea for a summit in Alaska on June 2, according to sources.

The project's proponents want to be able to announce at the summit they have received signed letters of intent from Japan and South Korea to invest in Alaska LNG or purchase its gas, the people said. Taiwan formally signed a similar letter of intent to purchase gas from Alaska LNG last month.