Qatar to nearly double LNG exports to Japan

Qatar plans to boost its exports of liquefied natural gas to Japan to more than 11 million tons a year in 2010 from the current 6 million tons, according to Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, the nation's energy and industry minister. "Now we're listening to our customers (in Japan), we feel they need more LNG. So I think we can increase another 5 million tons in the coming years," said al-Attiyah, who doubles as second deputy premier of the fourth-biggest supplier of oil and natural gas for Japan.