Japan's Osaka Gas Plans to Buy More LNG from Russia

Osaka Gas is expected to ramp up imports of LNG from Russia to meet rising demand.

"Russia can be a very, very strong candidate" for securing more supplies, said Osaka Gas President Hiroshi Ozaki, in an interview to Reuters at the Singapore International Energy Week.

Ozaki did not disclose to the news agency the exact amount the company might buy from Russia.

According to Reuters, Osaka Gas imported 390,000 tonnes from Russia in the financial year that ended March 31, compared with 260,000 tonnes a year earlier. The Japanes gas upplier is contracted to buy 200,000 tonnes from a project in Sakhalin.

Talking about company’s Mozambique plans, Ozaki told Reuters that it may take Osaka Gas at least 10 years to realise its plans to import LNG from the east African nation.

"It's a bit far-horizon business. But the potential is very huge," he told the news agency. "Mozambique is not a gas exporting country yet so they need some new infrastructure."

Osaka Gas has plans to invest in upstream activities offshore Mozambique and is looking at working with Tokyo Gas in buying LNG from one of the many projects planned in the east African nation, Reuters said.

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