Houston – A major new energy development backed by President Trump is poised to give the United States a competitive edge in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Glenfarne, the developer of the Alaska LNG project, says the venture’s access to stranded natural gas on the North Slope and a dramatically shorter shipping route to Asia will make its LNG at least 65% cheaper to transport than gas shipped from the Gulf Coast.
Lower shipping costs drive the economics
Tim Fitzpatrick, communications director for Glenfarne, told Reuters that once the project is complete, the cost of moving LNG from Alaska to Asian markets will be “at least 65% cheaper” than the cost of shipping LNG from the Gulf Coast. The savings stem from an 800‑mile pipeline that will carry gas from the North Slope to a new liquefaction plant in southern Alaska, eliminating the long over‑land haul and multiple trans‑shipment points required for Gulf Coast projects.
Infrastructure investment put in perspective
Critics have pointed to the project’s estimated price tag of $44.5 billion to $54.5 billion, noting that the per‑million‑ton‑per‑annum (MTPA) cost of $2.2 billion to $2.7 billion appears higher than recent Gulf Coast projects built at roughly $1 billion per MTPA. Glenfarne counters that those figures ignore the essential pipeline and gas‑treatment infrastructure needed to bring stranded North Slope gas to market. According to Fitzpatrick, the Alaska LNG project’s delivery cost is about $1.4 billion per MTPA, a figure that reflects the full cost of getting the gas to the export terminal.
Market demand already identified
Glenfarne says it has already secured customers for 13 million tons per year of LNG and is targeting 16 million tons annually to satisfy financing requirements. The firm argues that the true measure of competitiveness should be the delivered cost of LNG, not the upfront capital outlay.
Trump administration’s support
President Trump recently announced that South Korea will help finance the Alaska LNG effort as part of a broader $200 billion package of U.S. investment projects. While Seoul has indicated that its exact role is still being finalized, the administration’s commitment underscores the strategic importance of expanding American energy exports and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Implications for American families and the economy
Lower shipping costs translate into lower delivered‑cost LNG for Asian buyers, strengthening the United States’ position as a reliable energy partner. The project is also expected to create thousands of well‑paying jobs in Alaska and across the supply chain, supporting traditional families and reinforcing the nation’s energy independence—a core tenet of the Trump administration’s economic agenda.
As the Alaska LNG project moves toward final approvals, its proponents argue that the combination of reduced shipping expenses, secured customer contracts, and strong federal backing makes the massive infrastructure investment a prudent step toward a more prosperous, energy‑secure America.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
