Report: Russia offers Japan to build LNG plants in Far East – min

TOKYO, Jul 19 (PRIME) -- Russia has offered Japan to build new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants on the Sakhalin Island and near the Sila Sibiri gas pipeline, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told channel NHK in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.

“This concerns construction of a healthcare center in the Far East, this concerns construction of new facilities to produce LNG on Sakhalin and along the route of the Sila Sibiri gas pipeline,” Ulyukayev said when asked about topics discussed during his visit to Japan.

Russia made the offer to Japan Drilling Company (JDC) but other Japanese companies could participate as well, he said. Russia would like Japanese companies to come forward as soon as possible, Ulyukayev said.

The minister also said he sees a possibility to use national currencies instead of the U.S. dollar in transactions with Japan. Ulyukayev offered to establish a working group for a more comprehensive dialogue on the matter.

According to Ulyukayev, President Vladimir Putin could visit Japan but it is important to make the meeting agenda purely economic.

Tokyo sees the visit of Ulyukayev as a chance to develop economic relations between the two states, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said.

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