Japan, Gazprom Further Discuss Vladivostok LNG Plant

Tokyo hosted another meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) between Gazprom and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The meeting was chaired by Co-Chairmen of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) – Vitaly Markelov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Hisayoshi Ando, Director General of the Agency's Natural Resources and Fuel Department.

The meeting participants discussed the course of bilateral cooperation in the gas sector, including the project of LNG plant construction near Vladivostok, and exchanged their opinions on the issues of sci-tech cooperation.

With its scarce domestic energy resources, Japan is the world's fourth largest energy consumer. Japan purchases 100 per cent of consumed natural gas in the form of LNG and is the world's largest LNG importer.

In 2011 Gazprom together with the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy as well as with Japanese consortium Japan Far East Gas Company conducted the preliminary feasibility study on the project of the LNG plant construction near Vladivostok.

In March 2012 the Gazprom Management Committee resolved to prepare the Investment Rationale for the LNG plant construction near Vladivostok. Preparation for the Investment Rationale is to be completed in late 2012.