Philippines’ Marcos seeks to import LNG from Alaska, envoy says

THE Philippines plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska to meet its growing energy needs, the nation’s envoy to Washington said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr plans to discuss the matter and other opportunities to cooperate when he meets with President Donald Trump at the “soonest possible time,” Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said in a post on X late on Friday (Feb 21).

Marcos last month signed a law to establish the nation’s downstream natural gas industry and increase the fuel’s share in its energy mix that is currently dominated by coal. The Philippine leader has said he wants to meet with Trump to discuss trade and defense ties.

The South-east Asian nation began importing LNG in 2023 as its key Malampaya gas field – which supplies a fifth of the country’s power requirements – nears depletion.

Tokyo Gas, Japan’s biggest gas utility, earlier this week said it will acquire a 20 per cent stake in the Philippines’ FGEN LNG, which owns a floating LNG facility in Batangas City, south of the capital. BLOOMBERG