Indonesia to sharply slash LNG exports to Japan
Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina has decided to reduce its annual supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, the world's biggest LNG importer, from the current 12 million metric tons to 2-3 million tons, the major Japanese business daily reported Sunday.
If the plan is implemented, effective with contracts that will come up for renewal between 2010 and 2011, Indonesia's total annual LNG exports will fall to less than 5 million tons, one-third current levels, the Nikkei Shimbun said, quoting informed sources.
Although such large-lot users as electric power and gas companies are signing deals with Middle Eastern and other countries to make up for the expected fall in Indonesian imports, the reduction may deal a serious blow to Japan from the standpoint of its long-term energy security policy at a time when global LNG demand is surging, the daily said.
Posted by: Seafarious 2007-12-03 |