POSCO International is reportedly pursuing a stake acquisition in a shale gas field in the Williston Basin in North Dakota, United States.
The investment is reported to be the largest overseas gas field stake acquisition by a Korean private company to date, with the name of the US oil and gas company involved not disclosed. The deal is expected to secure approximately 700,000 tonnes of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) per year, with a goal of expanding this to 1.1 million tonnes annually by 2030, it is reported. As of a June 2026 report, the plan called for review by an investment deliberation committee in July and final board approval in August, with the acquisition to be completed within the year.
The investment is reported at $500 million (approximately KRW 760-800 billion).
The stake acquisition is viewed as part of POSCO International’s strategy to secure a long-term LNG supply chain through direct investment in overseas gas fields, it is reported.
A Korean company directly acquiring a stake in a US shale gas field to secure LNG volumes is seen as a case illustrating a shift in resource security strategy from simple purchase agreements toward equity investment.
Whether the board grants final approval and the timing of the acquisition’s completion within the year are worth watching.