"We will redirect parts of LNG (liquefied natural gas) imports from third countries through late March to April to Japan," an official at Knowledge Economy Ministry told AFP.

Japanese electricity operators on Saturday asked for Seoul's help with its gas supply, predicting it will take more than a month for Tokyo to offset shortages caused by damage to key nuclear power plants, the official said.

Negotiations with exporting countries are underway but it is unclear how much gas will be diverted to Japan, the world's top LNG buyer.

"We will provide as much as we can without disrupting our own domestic needs," she said, adding Tokyo will later return the gas under the LNG swap deal with Seoul.

South Korea, the world's second-largest buyer of LNG, has secured nearly 98 percent of its estimated needs this year through mid-and long-term contracts, the ministry said.

Japan has announced a programme of planned power cuts starting Monday after the massive earthquake and tsunami tore through the northeast of the country, crippling nuclear power plants in the region.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Sunday he had authorised the blackouts to prevent any sudden major supply disruption and appealed for public understanding.

earlier related report
Oil down on demand concerns from quake-hit Japan
Singapore (AFP) March 14, 2011 - Oil fell in Asian trade Monday on concerns demand from quake-hit Japan would be affected, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, dipped $1.28 to $99.88 per barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for April delivery lost $1.39 to $112.45.

"In the short term, there might be some demand disruptions due to the Japanese earthquake, but there will be an increase in fuel oil imports due to the lost nuclear power capacity, which will be supportive of fuel oil prices in the near term," said Chen Xin Yi, commodities analyst for Barclays Capital.

Crude futures fell immediately last week in reaction to Friday's massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake off Japan, unleashing a tsunami that battered the country's northeast coast and stretched across the Pacific.

Traders worry the disaster will affect energy consumption in Japan, the world's third largest economy.

Tokyo shares fell sharply in opening trade Monday as investors remained jittery over the economic consequences from the biggest earthquake in Japan's history and the devastating tsunami.

Shares fell 5.42 percent in a post-quake sell-off as the key index sank below 10,000 to its lowest levels since November.

The Nikkei index fell 556.06 points shortly after opening to 9,698.37.

Meanwhile, investors are also keeping a nervous eye on the unrest in Libya where rebels continue to battle forces loyal to leader Moamer Kadhafi.

Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Saleh al-Sada had said on Sunday that the world oil output was sufficient despite the unrest in Libya which had slashed the country's crude production.

Libya was producing 1.69 million barrels per day (bpd) before the unrest, according to the International Energy Agency. Of this 1.2 million bpd was exported, mostly to Europe but with China and the United States also major customers.

Oil giant Total said on Friday that the unrest has cut Libya's output by 1.4 million bpd to under 300,000. The price of oil on world markets has soared since the mid-February outbreak of the anti-government uprising.

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