Russia, Japan will work together to study Vladivostok LNG project

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(Platts; June 18) - Russia's energy ministry and Japan's ministry of economy, trade and industry next week are to sign a memorandum for a possible LNG project in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, Viktor Timoshilov, head of Gazprom's Eastern program, said June 18. The memorandum is to be signed at a June 24-25 meeting of energy ministers of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation member countries, Timoshilov said at a Gazprom media briefing.

Gazprom expects to prepare an investment study by the end of the year for construction of an LNG plant near Vladivostok, Alexander Medvedev, head of Gazprom Export, said at the media briefing. Earlier, the company planned to complete the investment study in the first quarter of 2013. The plant would be capable of processing more than 1.3 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

Gazprom plans to consider construction of a gas pipeline to Japan only after the Vladivostok LNG plant is built, Vitaly Markelov, deputy chairman of Gazprom, said at the briefing. "Our Japanese partners have raised the issue of constructing the pipeline during our [recent] talks. We have agreed that both for Russia and Japan, the LNG plant is a priority," Markelov said. Construction of a gas pipeline to Japan is seen as risky due to high seismic activity in the region, he said.

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