Regional focus

E. Gerden, Contributing Writer Russia is considering a significant increase in LNG exports to Africa and the Middle East over the next several years, according to the Russian Ministry of Energy. The increased exports will be part of the Russian government’s plan to diversify its energy exports and reduce its economic dependence on Western countries. This strategy also falls within Russia’s plan to supply 15% of the global LNG market. The first of these new supplies may be produced as early as 2018. Together with domestic natural gas monopoly Gazprom, the Russian government is completing construction of the Vladivostok and Baltic LNG terminals. The facilities will be located at opposite end