Alaska Governor talks LNG with Japan’s METI, JOGMEC

Alaska Governor Bill Walker on Friday met with Japan’s officials to discuss the $45 billion-plus Alaska LNG Project.

To remind, the state of Alaska will take over full management of the LNG project through the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp, as ExxonMobil, BP and ConocoPhilips decided no to invest further into the project.

Governor Walker,  Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) President Keith Meyer, and other key members of the administration met with officials from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, & Industry (METI), and the Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) to discuss the recent shift towards a state-led LNG project, and other resource opportunities in Alaska, according to a statement by the Governor’s press office.

METI’s mission is to develop the Japanese economy and industry, while JOGMEC exists to secure a stable supply of oil & gas, mineral resources, and coal & geothermal energy

“Alaska’s relationship with Japan is a special one,” Governor Walker said. “This meeting further underscored not only Japanese interest in Alaska natural gas, but also the general optimism that exists across the Pacific for our state to enter the international market. Japan is the largest LNG-buying nation in the world, and their interest in Alaska is very encouraging.”

The Juneau meeting came as the Governor prepared for an international trip to Singapore and South Korea to follow-up on previous interest in Alaska LNG, and as the AK LNG project transitions to state leadership.

“In addition to the gasline and LNG project, we discussed JOGMEC and METI’s technological advancements in CO2 capture and sequestration, and the small-scale distribution of LNG into remote markets, both of which could be very useful in Alaska’s overall development of the project,” AGDC President Keith Meyer said.