Report: Japanese leader to press Obama on gas exports

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will ask President Obama to allow U.S. natural gas exports to his country when the two leaders meet at the White House on Friday, according to a report.

The Bloomberg story, which cites three unnamed Japanese officials, arrives as Japanese power companies and business groups are already pressing the Energy Department to approve export applications.

Bloomberg reports that Abe “will ask U.S. President Barack Obama to allow shale gas exports as the world’s third-largest economy grapples with soaring energy costs after 2011’s nuclear disaster closed reactors.”

Japan is already the world’s largest liquefied natural gas importer, and the 2011 nuclear disaster there has further increased its need for outside energy supplies.

Almost all of Japan’s nuclear plants remain offline in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that led to meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

On Capitol Hill, bills recently introduced in the House and Senate would expedite approval of gas exports to Japan and NATO allies. Click here and here for more about the proposals.

The White House, in announcing the Feb. 22 visit, said it will be a far-reaching discussion between the two leaders.

“The President looks forward to in-depth discussions with Prime Minister Abe on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, economic and trade issues, and deepening bilateral cooperation,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement last week.