Construction on an 807-mile Alaska natural gas pipeline, a critical piece of the Alaska LNG project, could begin as early as next year, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Monday.

The Republican governor indicated that a final investment decision (FID) for the pipeline segment is anticipated this fall. 

If favorable, "quite possibly you would have potential construction here in a year, year and a half," Dunleavy said at an event hosted by the Hudson Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank in Washington D.C.

Dunleavy outlined a phased approach to the massive project, suggesting gas could flow through the pipeline for in-state use by 2028 or 2029. Exports of liquefied natural gas from a proposed tidewater terminal could commence approximately two years after that.

The governor emphasized that breaking down the project into phases helps mitigate concerns about its overall scale and cost, which has been a significant hurdle in its decades-long history.

"Once that pipe is in place and gas is flowing, you de-risk the whole project," Dunleavy said. 

He added that a goal is to see gas flowing during the next presidential administration, specifically mentioning the potential for this to occur under a Trump administration.

The Alaska LNG project aims to transport natural gas from the North Slope to a liquefaction facility on the Kenai Peninsula for export to Asian markets, as well as provide gas for Alaskans. 

The state has partnered with Glenfarne Energy Transition to advance the project.