South Korea is reportedly considering a major investment of $22.3 billion in a 6.3 gigawatt (GW) natural gas power plant in Encinal, Texas, according to a report by the South Korean news outlet Edaily. The report cited unnamed officials and lawmakers, suggesting the facility would provide electricity for AI data centers, which are critical for processing large amounts of data used in artificial intelligence systems. However, South Korea’s Industry Ministry has clarified that the media reports about the Texas deal are not accurate, and official discussions with the U.S. government are still ongoing. As a result, no exact figures or final decisions have been confirmed yet. The proposed investment would be part of a broader economic agreement signed between South Korea and the United States in 2025. Under this agreement, South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in U.S. projects in exchange for more favorable trade terms on its exports. If the Texas plant moves forward, it would be the first project under this agreement. However, the ministry emphasized that no decision has been made to build a nuclear energy facility in the U.S., though South Korea is also exploring other U.S. ventures, including a large-scale nuclear power plant and a gas export project linked to Alaska. If completed, the Encinal plant would be among the most expensive natural gas power stations ever built globally. Industry analysts suggest it could become the second-largest operational natural gas power facility in the world by capacity. The plant would supply electricity to data centers that support the increasing demand for AI computing, which is growing rapidly due to advancements in machine learning and other high-tech applications. Currently, it is unclear whether South Korea would fund the entire project alone or collaborate with U.S. partners. The U.S. government has not officially confirmed the reported figures, and details about the project’s financing, ownership, and construction schedule remain uncertain. Analysts believe the final investment scale may change depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the two countries, expected to continue through the fall. For now, the project remains speculative, with more information likely to emerge as discussions progress.