Japan open to boosting North America LNG

摘要

Calgary—Japanese gas companies and financial institutions are “open” to increasing their existing stake in planned grassroot LNG facilities in North America, as part of efforts to seek a greater cooperation between buyers and sellers, a Japanese industry official said Monday. “No final decision has been taken as yet on the extent to which the existing interests will be increased, but it is an option on the table as behind-the-scene talks are currently being held between Japanese importers and US and Canadian LNG producers,” Hiroshi Hashimoto, a senior gas analyst with The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan said on the sideline of the CERI 2014 Natural Gas Conference. He did not elaborate on the talks citing confidentiality reasons, but said the discussions are focused primarily arriving at an LNG offtake price “mutually acceptable” to both the buyer and seller.