Alaska LNG project gains momentum from global instability, aims to start shipments in 2031

"That's the reason Taiwan signed up, Thailand signed up, Japan and Korea have all signed up for volumes," he said.

Japan's two biggest LNG importers, JERA and Tokyo Gas, have reached preliminary deals to buy a combined two million tonnes a year from Alaska LNG.

Duval said Greek firm Danaos would aim to deliver LNG carriers around the time the project comes online, with Glenfarne aiming to start shipping LNG in 2031.

"We don't need any special carriers at all. The ice floes there allow us to have regular LNG carriers. Any LNG carrier globally can come and go," he said.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi; Additional reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Sonali Paul)