MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is eager to expand its infrastructure in Asia to help secure energy resources for Japan, the company said.
Alexander Ananenkov, deputy chairman of Gazprom's management committee, welcomed a Japanese delegation led by members of the natural resources sector to Moscow to discuss bilateral ties.
"Special emphasis was placed on interaction in the context of the Eastern Gas Program implementation as well as on creation of gas chemical industries, gas liquefaction and compression facilities in Eastern Russia near Vladivostok for further export to Asia-Pacific markets by sea," the Russian company said in a statement.
Both sides during a July meeting discussed investing in facilities to expand the production of liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas for Asian markets.
Japan is the fourth-largest consumer of energy resources in the world and the leader in consumption of LNG, relying on the liquefied resource for 100 percent of its imported gas.
Alexei Miller, the chief executive at Gazprom, said during a holiday message that his "company is gradually moving eastward."
