Russia to increase hydrocarbon deliveries to Japan

MOSCOW, March 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia will increase hydrocarbon
deliveries to Japan under an arrangement with that country, and the first
tanker is already on the way to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin
told reporters.
Gazprom has already started this work, and the first tanker loaded
with 100,000 tons of liquefied natural gas was rerouted to Japan, he said.
"The possibility of increasing such deliveries will be considered if a
request comes from the Japanese side, and, most probably, this will be
done," Sechin said.
The deputy premier forecasts the doubling of the deliveries of crude
oil to Japan, to reach 18 million tons. "Russia supplied to Japan 9.1
million tons of crude oil and 3.9 million tons of oil products last year,"
Sechin noted. "In view of the circumstances we forecast this year the
doubling of crude oil deliveries to reach 18 million tons and the growth
of oil products' deliveries by 1 million tons," he said.
"We also suggest to Japanese partners participation in joint projects;
to be more precise, we have actually reached agreement on that; concrete
interest was shown," Sechin said. He said this refers to joint work for
the construction of a petrochemical complex near Vladivostok Rosneft
builds.