Regional LNG: Philippines eyes LNG imports from delayed Alaska project
Monday, February 24 2025 - 08:13 AM WIB
The Philippines plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a long-delayed Alaska project to meet its growing energy needs, despite uncertainties surrounding the future of the proposed facility.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. intends to discuss this matter and explore other cooperation opportunities when he meets U.S. President Donald Trump "at the soonest possible time," Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on X (formerly Twitter) late Friday, as reported by Bloomberg.
The Alaska LNG export project, which has been proposed in various forms for decades, has struggled to secure binding long-term contracts and investments. Unlike similar facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Alaska project would require the construction of a 1,300-kilometer pipeline across the state.
Read also: Regional LNG: Tokyo Gas acquires stake in Philippines’ 1st FLNG terminal
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order signaling U.S. policy to "prioritize the development of Alaska’s liquefied natural gas potential, including the sale and transportation" of LNG to nations in the Pacific region.
Although the future of the Alaska project remains uncertain, both the U.S. and Japan have expressed support for the facility, with governments making pledges to appease Trump without committing to binding agreements. Following a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba earlier this month, the two nations discussed a potential pipeline project in Alaska.
In January, Marcos signed a law to establish a domestic natural gas industry and increase the fuel's share in the Philippines' energy mix, which is currently dominated by coal. The Philippines began importing LNG in 2023 as its key Malampaya gas field, which supplies about 20% of the country's power, nears depletion.
Last week, Tokyo Gas Co., Japan's largest gas utility, announced it would acquire a 20% stake in the Philippines' FGEN LNG Corp., which owns a floating LNG facility in Batangas City, south of Manila.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak