Russia to increase electricity, LNG supplies to Japan

Russia is increasing energy supplies to Japan to help its disaster-hit neighbor tackle energy shortages.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for Russian producers of liquefied natural gas on Monday to review contracts with Japan and increase LNG supplies to the country.

“Our partners should make concessions. This is a very big problem and we should introduce changes to agreements [with Japan],” Medvedev said, speaking at his Gorki residence outside Moscow.

Russian Deputy Prime Minsiter 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.

There are plans for constructing an underwater electric line linking Russia to Japan, Sechin said, adding however that the construction would take up to two years.

“We are ready to do this together with [our] Japanese colleagues and will formulate relevant proposals in the near future,” he said.

An 8.9-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit Japan on Friday, claiming the lives of at least 5,000 people. A series of blasts that ripped through the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in the country’s northeast on Saturday and Monday, have raised fears of a nuclear disaster facing the country.

GORKI (MOSCOW REGION), Moscow 14 (RIA Novosti)

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