Japan, Canada to Speed Up Shale Gas Talks

Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Friday that his Canadian counterpart has agreed to hold vice-ministerial level talks by the end of this year at the earliest to pave the way for exports of Canadian shale gas to Japan, Kyodo News International reports.

Last month Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Canada and initiated talks of Canadian shale gas to Japan and Motegi was visiting the country from Thursday to accelerate talks to prepare for the exports, the news agency adds.

"We hope to realize the imports soon on a commercial basis, as many Japanese firms are involved (in shale gas projects)," Kyodo News International  quoted Motegi as saying after the meeting,.

Japanese firms including Mitsubishi Corp. and JAPEX, are currently taking part in shale gas development and production projects in western Canada.

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