Japan, Alaska Sign LNG Related MoU

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Alaska's Department of Natural Resources on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to help Japan procure low-cost and stable supplies of LNG, reported news agency Reuters.

Japan will update the US state on its LNG demand outlook and information on government schemes to help support Japanese private firms' investments in Alaskan projects, while Alaska will apprise Japan on the progress of Exxon's LNG project, a Japanese trade ministry official said, added Reuters.

BP, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil are developing a project in Alaska which would include a liquefaction plant and terminal in the Nikiski area on the Kenai Peninsula, a gas treatment plant and a pipeline.

According to Reuters, the partners in July sought federal permission to export 20 million tonnes of LNG annually from a project.