Russia Calls Japan to Support Second Sakhalin LNG Project

Sakhalin Governor Alexander Khoroshavin has said that shareholders of the Sakhalin-1 project, the Japanese gas buyers and local authorities should work together to support the project of the second liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant to be implemented in Sakhalin, Port News has reported.

Khoroshavin met with heads of Mitsui, Tokyo Gas and Tokyo Electric at the presentation of the "Sakhalin - Territory of Development" showcase, Port News said citing the regional government website.

"The Government of the Russian Federation intends to significantly increase the country's share in world production of LNG. We expect that the Sakhalin region will be able to step up its presence in the gas market of Japan and Asia-Pacific region. We hope that our Japanese partners, including Mitsui, Tokyo Gas and Tokyo Electric will also be interested and support us in this issue. When I talk about increasing our presence in the gas market of the Land of the Rising Sun and of the Asia-Pacific region, I mean not only the expansion of the existing LNG plant on Sakhalin Island, but the idea of building yet another LNG plant in the framework of the "Sakhalin-1" project,” the Sakhalin Gov. press service quoted Khoroshavin as saying.

The new LNG facility could be launched as early as 2018, the official said.