(4th LD) Trump unveils S. Korea's investment plans for Alaska LNG project, Texas power plant, 8 nuclear reactors

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(ATTN: ADDS Trump's Truth Social comment in para 7) By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled South Korea's U.S. investment projects under last year's bilateral trade agreement: the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas, eight large-scale nuclear power plants and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska.

The announcement followed protracted negotiations over major energy infrastructure projects under the agreement that committed South Korea to investing US$350 billion in the United States -- $150 billion for the shipbuilding sector and the remainder for strategic investments -- in return for lower U.S. tariffs on Korean goods.

Trump's explanation of the first investment package under the agreement suggested apparent differences with Seoul's position that the two countries have largely agreed on the Texas and nuclear projects, while Korea's participation in the Alaska project has yet to be finalized.

Trump highlighted the investment projects as he has underscored his economic achievements ahead of the November midterm elections amid public concerns over the monthslong war with Iran that has resulted in high energy prices and deepened economic uncertainties.

"(South Korea) will invest up to $200 billion ... to build a 6-gigawatt power generation facility in Texas. That's a major plant. That's about as big as you will see, (and) eight new large-scale nuclear power plants," Trump said at the White House.

"And at long last, Alaska liquefied natural gas pipeline. That's a big one," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Sept. 30, 2026, in this photo released by UPI. (Yonhap)

In a social media post later, Trump said that he and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed to "launch" $200 billion of new investments in the U.S. when they recently met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Trump touted the set of three projects as "the colossal package," saying it marked a "major step towards securing our critical energy supply chain, ensuring American energy dominance and making our partnership with South Korea and the entire Pacific region stronger than ever before."

"The natural gas power plant that will be constructed in Texas will be among the largest ever built anywhere in the world. The eight new nuclear reactors built across the country will solidify our position as the world's leading producer of nuclear power," the president said.

He added, "By building the Alaska LNG pipeline, we will deliver nearly 4 billion cubic feet of LNG per day, and that puts us at a level that is not comparable with anyone else."

The LNG project involves the construction of a 1,298-kilometer-long pipeline from the North Slope, which has massive proven natural gas reserves, to southern Alaska to transport natural gas that will be cooled to liquid form for shipments to Asia.

Trump made the announcement alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), calling the investment plans "one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in American history."

Later, the Commerce Department released a fact sheet outlining the projects for the Texas plant, nuclear reactors and the Alaska LNG project, which it called "Project Star," "Project Power" and "Project North," respectively.

"The plan announced today will expand the stable power supply needed for AI and strategic industries, strengthen critical supply chains, and contribute to enhancing the energy, economic, and national security of both countries," the department said.

Estimated to cost $22.3 billion, Project Star features the construction and operation of a combined-cycle gas power plant in Encinal, La Salle County, Texas, the department said, noting that the plant will begin its commercial operation in 2029 and reach its full-capacity operation in 2032.

The project will support the stable operation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers while promoting Korea-U.S. cooperation in the energy and infrastructure sectors, it added.

Project Power includes a blueprint for the construction of eight nuclear power plants, which integrate two units of a Korean-designed reactor model, APR1400, and six units of a U.S.-designed reactor model, AP1000.

The funding for the nuclear project totals $120 billion -- $100 billion for construction costs, or overnight costs, and $20 billion for contingency reserves, the department said.

"By combining U.S. technological expertise with Korea's supply chain capabilities and leveraging successful deployment cases in the United States, the two parties will broaden their strategic, long-term cooperation in the global nuclear power market," the department said.

"The parties will develop and announce individual projects separately as sites, schedules, and commercial terms are finalized."

At the event announcing the projects, Lutnick said eight "gigantic" nuclear power plants will be built across the U.S., including in Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kentucky.

On Project North, the department said that the "two countries have agreed to commence working on the Alaska LNG project, subject to meeting 'commercial reasonableness' under the Strategic Investment memorandum of understanding (MOU) and all applicable domestic legal requirements."

It was referring to the MOU on South Korea's investment commitment.

Lutnick said that over $50 billion will be invested in the Alaska project.

South Korean President Lee and Trump reached the trade agreement during their summit in South Korea last October. In return for Seoul's investment commitment, Washington agreed to lower its now-invalidated "reciprocal" tariffs on South Korean goods to 15 percent from 25 percent.

South Korea and the U.S. had engaged in difficult negotiations over the selection of investment projects amid Seoul's efforts to ensure "commercial viability" in those projects.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) listens to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Sept. 30, 2026, in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr (END)

(4th LD) Trump unveils S. Korea's investment plans for Alaska LNG project, Texas power plant, 8 nuclear reactors

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（注：第七段新增特朗普关于Truth Social的评论）宋相浩

华盛顿，9月30日（韩联社）——美国总统唐纳德·特朗普周三公布了韩国根据去年双边贸易协定在美国的投资项目：在德克萨斯州建设一座燃气发电厂、八座大型核电站以及在阿拉斯加建设一个液化天然气（LNG）项目。

此前，双方就重大能源基础设施项目进行了漫长的谈判。根据协议，韩国承诺向美国投资 3500 亿美元——其中 1500 亿美元用于造船业，其余用于战略投资——以换取美国降低对韩国商品的关税。

特朗普对该协议下首个投资方案的解释表明，他与首尔的立场存在明显分歧。首尔方面表示，两国已就德克萨斯州和核电项目达成基本一致，而韩国参与阿拉斯加项目的事宜尚未最终确定。

在公众对持续数月的伊朗战争感到担忧之际，特朗普强调了这些投资项目，并借此机会宣传了他的经济成就。这场战争导致能源价格高企，经济不确定性加剧，也给公众带来了诸多困扰。

“（韩国）将投资高达2000亿美元……在德克萨斯州建造一座6吉瓦的发电厂。那是一座大型电厂。规模之大，几乎是你能见到的最大的电厂了，（此外）还有八座新的大型核电站，”特朗普在白宫说道。

“最后，还有阿拉斯加液化天然气管道项目。这可是个大项目，”他补充道。

2026年9月30日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在华盛顿白宫椭圆形办公室与商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克共同宣布一项消息。这张照片由合众国际社（UPI）发布。（韩联社）

随后，特朗普在社交媒体上发帖称，他和韩国总统李在明最近在纽约联合国大会期间会面时，同意在美国“启动”2000亿美元的新投资。

特朗普称这三个项目是“庞大的方案”，并表示这标志着“在保障我们关键能源供应链、确保美国能源主导地位以及使我们与韩国和整个太平洋地区的伙伴关系比以往任何时候都更加牢固方面迈出了重要一步”。

总统表示：“即将在德克萨斯州建造的天然气发电厂将是世界上规模最大的发电厂之一。全国各地新建的八座核反应堆将巩固我们作为世界领先核电生产国的地位。”

他补充说：“通过建设阿拉斯加液化天然气管道，我们每天将输送近 40 亿立方英尺的液化天然气，这使我们达到了其他任何国家都无法比拟的水平。”

该液化天然气项目包括修建一条从拥有大量已探明天然气储量的北坡到阿拉斯加南部的 1298 公里长的管道，将天然气输送到亚洲，冷却成液态后再运往亚洲。

特朗普与商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克、内政部长道格·伯古姆、能源部长克里斯·赖特和参议员丹·沙利文（阿拉斯加州共和党）共同宣布了这项投资计划，称其为“美国历史上最大的能源基础设施投资之一”。

随后，商务部发布了一份情况说明书，概述了德克萨斯州工厂、核反应堆和阿拉斯加液化天然气项目，分别称之为“星光项目”、“电力项目”和“北方项目”。

该部门表示：“今天宣布的这项计划将扩大人工智能和战略产业所需的稳定电力供应，加强关键供应链，并有助于提高两国的能源、经济和国家安全。”

该部门表示，星光计划预计耗资 223 亿美元，将在德克萨斯州拉萨尔县恩西纳尔建造和运营一座联合循环燃气发电厂，该电厂将于 2029 年开始商业运营，并于 2032 年达到满负荷运转。

该项目将支持人工智能数据中心的稳定运行，同时促进韩美在能源和基础设施领域的合作。

“电力计划”包括建造八座核电站的蓝图，其中两座为韩国设计的反应堆型号 APR1400，六座为美国设计的反应堆型号 AP1000。

该部门表示，核电项目的资金总额为 1200 亿美元——其中 1000 亿美元用于建设成本（或称紧急成本），200 亿美元用于应急储备。

该部门表示：“通过结合美国的技术专长和韩国的供应链能力，并借鉴美国成功的部署案例，双方将扩大在全球核电市场的战略性长期合作。”

“各方将在确定项目地点、进度安排和商业条款后，分别制定并公布各个项目。”

在宣布这些项目的活动上，卢特尼克表示，将在美国各地建造八座“巨型”核电站，其中包括俄亥俄州、田纳西州、南卡罗来纳州和肯塔基州的核电站。

关于北方项目，该部门表示，“两国已同意开始阿拉斯加液化天然气项目的工作，但须符合《战略投资谅解备忘录》中的‘商业合理性’以及所有适用的国内法律要求。”

它指的是韩国投资承诺的谅解备忘录。

卢特尼克表示，将有超过500亿美元投资于阿拉斯加项目。

韩国总统李明博和特朗普去年10月在韩国举行的峰会上达成了贸易协议。作为首尔投资承诺的回报，华盛顿同意将其对韩国商品征收的、现已失效的“对等”关税从25%降至15%。

在首尔努力确保投资项目“商业可行性”的过程中，韩国和美国就投资项目的选择进行了艰难的谈判。

2026年9月30日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普（右）在华盛顿白宫椭圆形办公室听取商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克（左）的讲话。这张照片由法新社发布。（韩联社）

sshluck@yna.co.kr（完）

（第四版）特朗普公布韩国对阿拉斯加液化天然气项目、德克萨斯州发电厂和8座核反应堆的投资计划