Japan turns to LNG for more clean energy

Japan’s continuing effort to diversify away from nuclear energy has led it to develop liquefied natural gas as an alternative.

Japan and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding where Japanese firms will participate in a project to build an LNG terminal in Vladivostok in Russian Asia.

Japan hopes to secure stable LNG supplies by enhancing its trade ties with Russia. It faces a huge increase in demand for LNG as an energy source as only two of its 50 nuclear power plants are to begin operating again.

Minister Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano and and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak also agreed to exchange information about energy-saving technologies

Novak said Russia also wants Japanese firms to participate in a petroleum complex construction project in Vladivostok.

Edano also asked the US to increase its LNG exports to Japan since prices are falling in the United States due to an increased production of shale gas.