Qatar has safely and successfully delivered nearly 2,000 LNG cargoes to Japanese customers since 1997, HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada said.

He was speaking at a reception organised in Tokyo by Qatargas in honour of Japanese officials and senior executives from Japanese partners, shareholders, financial institutions, buyers, contractors and service providers working with Qatar Petroleum and its subsidiaries.

Al-Sada outlined the strong foundations of the historic relationship between Qatar and Japan and said, “HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was keen to develop them in all fields.”

“As you know, energy occupies a very special place in the matrix of our bilateral relationship,” al-Sada said.

“However, our collaboration in the field of natural gas has a special significance not just because one can describe it as the backbone of energy co-operation, but also because Japan was our founding LNG customer,” he added.

The minister highlighted Qatar’s position and record as “a reliable and credible energy supplier.” He also thanked all the Japanese customers for their continued trust and their support of Qatargas.

Al-Sada had earlier visited Nagoya district, where he held meetings with the chairman of the board of directors and senior executives of Chubu Electric Power Company on co-operation in the field of natural gas. The minister later held similar talks in Tokyo with the president and senior executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Al-Sada also held meetings with Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi, and senior officials at the ministry for a review of bilateral co-operation in the field of energy and discussed issues of mutual concern.

The Minister of Energy and Industry is accompanied on the visit and talks by a delegation of senior executives from Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas, RasGas, and Qatar Petroleum International.