South Korea nears $100bn US energy investment deal

South Korea is nearing an agreement on a US energy investment worth more than $100 billion, aimed at supporting America’s artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the deal would see Seoul finance the construction of up to eight nuclear power plants, alongside a separate natural gas project in Texas estimated at $20 billion, both intended to power AI data centres.

The first reactors would use Westinghouse Electric’s design, with later units potentially built using South Korea’s KEPCO technology. The move builds on a trade deal struck last October, in which Seoul committed $350 billion to US manufacturing in exchange for capped tariffs.

South Korea’s trade ministry said final details have not yet been confirmed, though an announcement could come as early as next week.