Overview

• President Trump told lawmakers the United States and Japan will form a joint venture to develop an Alaska liquefied natural gas export project during a White House briefing on his trade deal with Tokyo.
• The proposed $44 billion plan envisions an 800-mile pipeline from Arctic gas fields to a new liquefaction plant for shipments to Asian markets.
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry officials have publicly stated they are unaware of any joint venture agreement.
• Major Japanese LNG buyers JERA and Tokyo Gas say they have not been involved in or briefed on the proposed partnership.
• Thailand’s PTT and India’s GAIL have expressed interest in purchasing LNG from the project but are awaiting detailed commercial terms