September 25, 2012, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sean Parnell is conducting an economic trade mission with energy officials in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The focus is on promoting Alaska’s natural gas to Pacific Rim markets. Over the next week, Governor Parnell is meeting with Japanese and South Korean officials and business leaders to discuss opportunities that will benefit both economies.

“We look forward to capitalizing on the enormous potential that exists for Alaska’s North Slope natural gas in our state and in Pacific Rim nations,” Governor Parnell said. “This is a great opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones that will grow economic opportunity with Japan and South Korea.”

Governor Parnell recently met with the CEO of KOGAS to discuss Alaska’s longtime role as a reliable exporter of LNG to Asia, and the state’s roadmap to significantly boost those exports with a major Alaska gas pipeline to tidewater.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry graciously arranged a meeting and conversations between Governor Parnell and executives from companies, including Samsung C&T, STX Energy, Daesung Industrial Co., Ltd., Korea Midland Power Co., GS Global Co., LG International Corp., Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Governor Parnell discussed significant progress being made on an all-Alaska gasline to tidewater and the investment potential for these companies in Alaska.

Alaska’s major producers and TC-Alaska are currently working with the Alaska Pipeline Project on the commercialization of North Slope gas with a specific focus on a large-scale LNG project in Southcentral Alaska.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan traveled to Asia this past week to pave the way with company and government officials in the Republic of Korea and Japan. Sullivan was a featured speaker at the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference in Tokyo, which brought together energy ministers from many countries, as well as Asian utilities and some of the world’s largest LNG suppliers.

The trip is Governor Parnell’s second international trade mission since taking office. In November 2011, he traveled to Europe to promote Alaska’s international trade in seafood, and to build on the state’s global reputation as a leader in oil and gas production.