April 7 (Reuters) - U.S.-based investment firm Stonepeak

will acquire a 40% stake in Woodside Energy's ( WDS ) Louisiana

LNG project and contribute $5.7 billion in capital expenditures,

the Australian energy company said on Monday.

Under the partnership, Stonepeak, which manages about $72

billion in assets, will contribute $5.7 billion in capital

expenditure for the project's foundation development, with the

contribution to be accelerated in both 2025 and 2026.

The deal comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump

has been pushing trade partners to buy more U.S. energy. Trump

issued several executive orders in his first weeks in office,

aimed at boosting domestic oil and gas output.

Global players have been vying for U.S. LNG projects to

diversify their supply base and potentially fend off U.S.

tariffs under the Trump administration, by increasing energy

imports and narrowing trade deficits that irk the U.S.

president.

Reuters previously reported that Woodside is in talks with

several potential buyers for a stake sale in its Louisiana LNG

project.

Upon completion of the deal, the company will retain a 60%

stake in the project.

"We will continue advancing discussions with additional

potential partners targeting an equity sell-down of around 50%

in the integrated project," Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill said on

Monday.

The Louisiana LNG project, which is awaiting a final

investment decision, is likely to be built in four phases, with

Phase I expected to produce 11 million metric tons per annum

(MTPA) of the superchilled gas.

When completed, the project is expected to produce 27.6

MTPA.

Shares of Woodside were down 7.5% at A$18.89, as at 0104

GMT, in line with an 8.6% slump in the broader energy sub-index

.