South Korea hosts Alaska governor, energy team amid talk of gas pipeline

SEOUL – Alaskan state representatives led by the governor and including energy officials visited South Korea on March 25 to discuss energy cooperation, amid a push for US allies in Asia to join a stalled gas pipeline project touted by President Donald Trump.

Governor Mike Dunleavy’s delegation includes officials from the Glenfarne Group, which is a partner in the project to transport gas from Alaska’s remote north via a US$44 billion (S$58.78 billion) pipeline and the state gas agency, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (Amcham) said.

Mr Dunleavy met South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and discussed energy cooperation, including over the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and other trade issues, the ministry said in a statement.

It did not specify whether any specific elements of the project were discussed.

Earlier on March 25, Mr Dunleavy met Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi province, South Korea’s most populous region that surrounds the capital, Seoul.

Mr Kim noted Alaska was a key part of the global energy system and said he hoped the US state and South Korea could pursue mutually beneficial cooperation.

Energy-scarce South Korea is the world’s third-largest buyer of LNG, behind China and Japan and is home to a major petrochemical sector.

Mr Dunleavy said it was Mr Trump’s hope the talks on the LNG project would benefit all parties, and an agreement would not be at the expense of the national interest of any of the allies.

Mr Trump has sought to shore up the gas project and called for the

participation of South Korea, Japan and Taiwan

, who are seen as potential buyers of the gas that would be transported through the 1,300km pipeline.

South Korea has already said it would be actively involved in discussions over the project.

South Korea, a major exporter of steel, autos and electric vehicle batteries to the United States, has been bracing itself for Mr Trump’s plan to impose tough tariffs on countries that have trade surpluses in bilateral US trade.

Mr Trump, who has directed his team to prepare

reciprocal tariff plans by early April

, has said South Korea’s average tariff was four times higher than the rate imposed by the US.

Seoul has disputed Mr Trump’s assertion. South Korea’s Trade Ministry said the country’s effective tariff rate on US imports was 0.79 per cent, as nearly all import duty was eliminated under the free trade agreement signed first in 2007.

Mr Dunleavy’s delegation was expected to be in South Korea until March 26.

The Alaska representatives were scheduled to also meet leaders of major South Korean businesses including the SK and Hanwha conglomerates, Posco and the state gas corporation, for discussions on key industrial sectors including energy, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, Amcham has said. REUTERS