OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2011. The Gazprom headquarters hosted a working meeting of Co-Chairmen of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) between Gazprom and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (Agency) under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Hisayoshi Ando, Director General of the Agency's Natural Resources and Fuel Department.

 The parties pointed out the success of the joint efforts in 2010 and discussed the cooperation opportunities aimed at resumption of sustained energy supplies to Japan.

 Special attention was paid to the cooperation between Gazprom and the Agency as part of the Eastern Gas Program including within the potential project on creating an LNG plant, gas compression capacities and gas chemical facilities near Vladivostok.
Background

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

 Gazprom and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry signed the five-year Framework Agreement of Cooperation on November 21, 2005. In January 2011 the Agreement was extended for another five-year period. The Agreement sets forth the key areas of bilateral cooperation in the gas sector. A Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) was established to implement the Agreement. A Joint Working Group was set up within the Committee.

 On January 11, 2011 Gazprom and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry signed the Agreement of Cooperation envisaging 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. The issues relevant to potential LNG plant construction near Vladivostok will be considered as part of the Agreement.

 As previously agreed, on April 25, 2011 Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Yoshio Matsukawa, President and CEO of Japan Far East Gas Co., Ltd signed the Agreement on the joint feasibility study for implementation of the Vladivostok project.