Gazprom and Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy sign agreements to promote cooperation in Eastern Russia

The Agreement envisages preparation of a joint feasibility study on the options for natural gas utilization near Vladivostok as well as for natural gas and gas chemicals transportation from the Vladivostok region and their sales among potential customers in Asia-Pacific countries.
Among other things, the signed document stipulates that a joint front-end engineering design be undertaken in 2011 on constructing an LNG plant near Vladivostok. The parties will also study the possibility of the pilot project on natural gas compression in Vladivostok for subsequent offshore transportation and organization of gas chemicals production.
The parties also extended the Framework Agreement of Cooperation for five years.
Background
With its scarce domestic energy resources, Japan is the world's fourth largest energy consumer. The country annually consumes some 80 billion cubic meters of gas. The share of gas in the Japanese energy mix is currently at 14 per cent and it is likely to grow. 100 per cent of consumed gas is imported in the form of LNG, making Japan the world's top LNG importer.