TOKYO -- Japan aims to help boost Asia's potential to use liquefied natural gas with $10 billion in aid, the government said Wednesday, in a bid to play a lead role in developing a market held back by lack of infrastructure and restrictive supply contracts.
Japan is the world's No. 1 importer of the fuel, which could help power economic growth in energy-hungry Asia. Hiroshige Seko, the Japanese trade and industry minister, announced the initiative at a Tokyo conference of LNG producers and consumers.
