Russian energy giant Gazprom may boost its natural gas supplies to Europe and redirect European-bound liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has said.
Shortly after a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for Russian LNG producers to review contracts with Japan and increase LNG supplies to the country.
“We could supply additional 50-70 million cubic meters of gas [to Europe]. Therefore, we will be able to compensate for the LNG with additional natural gas volumes,” Miller said.
He said the final decision was up to LNG suppliers and European consumers.
“We are now studying commercial aspects,” he added. “I can’t say this process is easy.”
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin told Medvedev that Russian energy giant Gazprom was planning to increase its supplies of liquefied natural gas to Japan by 100,000 tons in April and May.
He also said Russia intended to supply about 6,000 megawatts of electricity to Japan in the near future and there were plans for constructing an underwater electric line linking the two neighbors.
LJUBLJANA, March 23 (RIA Novosti)