Walker meets with Japanese energy officials before trip to Asia

In advance of trips to Asian countries to market Alaska's natural gas, Gov. Bill Walker and other state officials met with Japanese energy officials Friday who offered to help line up meetings with potential gas buyers.

The three-hour meeting in Juneau came at the request of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corp., Walker said. The groups are involved in ensuring that Japan, the world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas, has stable energy supplies.

The meetings "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," Walker said in a statement released on Tuesday.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Walker said the Japanese officials came to Alaska as part of their effort to keep abreast of energy prospects around the world.

Read more: http://www.adn.com/business-economy/energy/2016/09/13/walker-meets-with-japanese-before-trip-to-asia-begins/