Japan's Kansai to buy more NWS gas

The marketing arm of the North West Shelf Venture has extended the relationship with customer Kansai Electric Power Company, which will buy a further 3.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas.

North West Shelf Australia today said it has executed an agreement that will see Kansai buy the extra LNG over an eight year period, starting this year.

The latest deal was first arranged as a binding heads of agreement in November 2006. Kansai has been a customer since 1989.

NWS Australia said that the signing of the latest agreement means Kansai will buy around 1mt of LNG per year after 2009.

The North West Shelf is held by six equal participants; BHP Billiton Petroleum, BP, Chevron, Japan Australia LNG, Shell and Woodside which is the operator.