Japan, British Columbia to Explore for Shale Gas

Japan and British Columbia, a province in Canada, on Monday signed agreement to develop shale gas resources in the province.

 "As the world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas, Japan is a critical partner in the development of B.C.'s natural gas industry," said Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia. "We're here to leverage our competitive advantages and make sure B.C. is top of mind for LNG investment."

The memorandum provides a framework for areas of co-operation, including: accelerated investments into LNG exploration and development, industrial co-operation of related industries through business matching opportunities, timely and effective infrastructure construction and environmental assessment processes, and information sharing on energy policies and technologies, Government of British Columbia said in a statement.

Also, Premier Clark renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on mutual co-operation with the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) to work together and share information on natural gas activities.

Since the MOU was first signed in May 2012, the Government of British Columbia and JOGMEC have worked closely together as JOGMEC and its partners pursue natural gas projects in B.C. In particular, the Province provides support for JOGMEC as it considers the feasibility of a gas-to-liquids project in B.C.

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