Trump announces Taiwan will buy 30% of gas from Alaska LNG pipeline, invests $4.4 billion

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday in Wasilla, Alaska that Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30 percent of the natural gas that would flow through the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline and will invest $4.4 billion in the project.

The commitment provides the commercial backing the 807‑mile, 20‑million‑metric‑ton‑per‑year pipeline has lacked, helping the developer Glenfarne Group reach the 80‑percent buyer threshold required before construction can begin.

Glenfarne Group has said it will not break ground until long‑term contracts cover at least 80 percent of the line’s capacity. As of September, the project was short of about three million metric tons, a gap the Taiwan deal is expected to fill.

"It's one of the biggest commitments in history for anything," Trump said. "It's one of the biggest deals ever made."

The Taiwanese investment follows a September announcement that South Korea would contribute more than $50 billion, underscoring a growing Asian interest in U.S. liquefied natural gas exports.

Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, which holds a 25‑percent stake, projects the pipeline could generate 11,053 construction jobs, 5,886 permanent positions, and tens of billions of dollars in gross domestic product, while saving a typical Alaska household over $2,000 a year on energy bills.

Trump delivered the news at a rally supporting Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich, urging Alaskans to vote Republican in the upcoming midterm elections and warning that Democratic control could threaten the state's energy agenda.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the agreement "a really good start" and praised Taiwan’s willingness to back the line.

The administration says every federal permit for the project has been approved, and Trump told the crowd, "You can start tonight," indicating the pipeline could move forward as soon as financing is secured.

With the Taiwanese purchase and funding now in place, the next steps will focus on final financing agreements and ensuring congressional support as the 2026 midterms approach, determining whether the long‑awaited Alaska LNG line will finally break ground.