Hamm Institute, OSU Global collaborate on energy security project with South Korea and Japan

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Media Contact: Hailey Rose Viars | Communications Specialist | 405-744-5496 | hviars@okstate.edu

In today’s geopolitical climate, energy security is more crucial than ever. 

The Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University is bridging academia, industry and applied research to develop practical solutions for the most critical energy security challenges.

Funded by a $50 million endowment from Harold Hamm, founder and executive chairman of Continental Resources, the Hamm Institute is dedicated to strengthening energy security for the U.S. and its allies. This commitment is why South Korea’s largest energy company, SK Energy, has enlisted the institute to address pressing energy security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. 

The Hamm Institute partnered with OSU Global and the School of Global Studies, which boasts experts across geopolitics, trade and economics, to lead the Trilateral Energy Security Committee project.

Energy security is a significant challenge for South Korea and Japan because of their dependence on energy imports. They import almost 100% of their crude oil, natural gas and coal, leaving them highly vulnerable to global market fluctuations, geopolitical tensions and environmental disruptions. A significant energy supply disruption would send serious ripples through their economies, national security and the wider region.

The TESC research team — which includes Andrew Ranson, director of the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development, and Dr. John Schoeneman, assistant professor in the School of Global Studies, as well as from the Korea Energy Economics Institute and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan — is taking a multi-phase approach. They are crafting policy recommendations that balance energy security with carbon reduction targets using advanced data modeling, machine learning and qualitative interviews.

Preliminary findings from the TESC project stress the crucial role liquefied natural gas plays in stabilizing the regional energy balance. But the team isn’t stopping there. They’re also looking into new technologies like hydrogen, ammonia and small modular nuclear reactors.

So far, the project’s success has been due to its collaborative nature. The Hamm Institute and OSU Global are leading the effort, while the research teams from international counterparts at KEEI and IEEJ are providing essential data, market analysis and strategic guidance. Their collaboration has allowed the team to engage relevant energy experts in South Korea and Japan. Likewise, industry partners on both sides of the Pacific have been hands-on, offering their wealth of expertise to help frame and inform crucial energy security challenges.

The TESC project is not just pinpointing solutions. It is also pioneering the path for future energy security initiatives.

The project’s work is far from finished. The team is looking for new partners to extend the reach of the research. The goal is to make the model transferable and use it to generate similar research in other regions that face the same challenges. 

This is a vital step in protecting economic stability and national security for the U.S. and its allies. The collaboration demonstrates how shared expertise can help address complex global challenges.

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