OREANDA-NEWS. September 19, 2013. His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, said Qatar has safely and successfully delivered nearly 2,000 LNG cargoes to Japanese customers since 1997.

H.E. the minister was speaking at a Qatargas reception held in Tokyo in honour of Japanese officials and senior executives from Japanese partners, shareholders, financial institutions, buyers, contractors and service providers working with Qatar Petroleum and its subsidiaries.

In his address, H.E. Dr. Al-Sada outlined the strong foundations of the historic relationship between Qatar and Japan and said that “His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, was keen to develop them in all fields.”

“As you know, energy occupies a very special place in the matrix of our bilateral relationship,” H.E. Dr. Al-Sada said. “However, our collaboration in the field of natural gas has a special significance not just because one can describe it as the backbone of energy cooperation but also because Japan was our founding LNG customer,” he added.

In his comments, H.E. Dr. Al-Sada highlighted Qatar’s position and record as “a reliable and credible energy supplier”. He also thanked all the Japanese customers for their continued trust and their support of Qatargas.

The Minister of Energy and Industry had earlier visited Nagoya district, where he held meetings with the Chairman of the Board of Directors and senior executives of Chubu Electric Power Company on cooperation in the field of natural gas. H.E. the Minister later held similar talks in Tokyo with the President and senior executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company.

H.E. Dr. Al-Sada also held meetings with Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, H.E. Toshimitsu Motegi, and senior officials at the ministry for a review of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy and a discussion of issues of mutual concern.

The Minister of Energy and Industry is accompanied on the visit and talks by a delegation of senior executives from Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas, RasGas, and Qatar Petroleum International.