MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- A consortium of Japanese natural gas companies agreed to examine investments needed for an LNG plant with the Russians, energy company Gazprom said.
Alexei Miller, the chief executive at Russia's Gazprom, met with a Japanese delegation led by Ichiro Takahara, director general of Japan's natural resources and energy, in Moscow regarding energy cooperation.
"The meeting summed up the results of the feasibility study on the options for natural gas use near Vladivostok," said Gazprom in a statement. "It was agreed that Gazprom and the consortium of Japanese companies, Japan Far East Gas Co., Ltd., were to move over to the investment rationale for the LNG plant."
A magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami led to a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan last year, leading Tokyo to take on more natural gas to balance its energy portfolio.
Japan relies on LNG to meet 100 percent of its natural gas needs, making it the largest LNG importer in the world.
Japanese companies and Gazprom reached preliminary agreements on an LNG plant in April 2011.
