Story perspectives

Japan, Malaysia Seal 20-Year LNG Deal, Deepen Ties

6/10/2026

Summary

Japan-Malaysia LNG Deal

Japan and Malaysia signed a 20-year LNG deal for 2 million tonnes per year starting 2028.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sanae Takaichi met in Tokyo on 10 June 2026 and pledged defence, economic, energy and technology cooperation.
Japan and Malaysia will expand maritime cooperation under the framework, finalize a safety memorandum, extend a currency-swap, and sign letters of intent on energy security while prolonging memoranda on safety, environment, sustainability and medical-device regulation.

Summary

Petronas-ENI JV

PETRONAS and Eni formed Searah, a 50:50 joint venture in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Searah starts with 19 gas assets—14 in Indonesia, five in Malaysia—producing about 300,000 boe/d.
The venture targets more than 500,000 boe/d of sustainable production within three years.
It is backed by a USD 6 billion revolving credit facility and up to USD 20 billion of investments.
The funds will develop over 3 billion boe of discovered resources and unlock further exploration potential.

Summary

Flåm Seeks Pact

State Secretary Andreas Flåm visited Tokyo from 1 to 5 June 2026, telling Vice-Minister Masahisa Myazaki that China’s rise and the China-Russia alliance pose strategic risks.
Flåm said Norway seeks a bilateral security pact with Japan as a step toward broader defence, space and security cooperation.
On 3 June 2026 the delegation attended a Norwegian defence seminar, met ATLA and METI on materiel sharing and toured Synspective’s satellite-earth observation technology.

History

Historical Context

During the 1973 oil embargo, Japan, which sourced 90 % of its oil from the Middle East, cut consumption and pursued alternative supplies. It later began importing LNG from Malaysia’s Petronas, and the two now renew a long-term 20-year agreement for significant 2 million tonnes, cementing deeper mutual strategic Japan-Malaysia energy cooperation.

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Japan-Malaysia LNG Deal

Japan and Malaysia signed a 20-year LNG deal for 2 million tonnes per year starting 2028.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sanae Takaichi met in Tokyo on 10 June 2026 and pledged defence, economic, energy and technology cooperation.
Japan and Malaysia will expand maritime cooperation under the framework, finalize a safety memorandum, extend a currency-swap, and sign letters of intent on energy security while prolonging memoranda on safety, environment, sustainability and medical-device regulation.

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