Shipping companies in China and Japan have said they will start a regular service to carry Siberian natural gas across the Arctic Ocean to East Asia. Analysts anticipate Asian energy demand will reshape global shipping routes. In addition to investing in the Yamal LNG Project sponsored by Novatek, China National Petroleum, one of the biggest customers for the Siberian natural gas, has signed a contract to purchase three million tons a year for 20 years, according to Novatek. Japan, meanwhile, has stepped up natural-gas and coal imports to replace its 48 nuclear reactors, all of which are now offline. In May, the Japanese government held its first conference with the private sector to discuss the Arctic route. It estimated that 22% of the world's gas reserves lie around the Yamal area. "It's still far in the future, but the resource-rich Arctic Sea will be very important for Japan," said Ryo Minami, oil and gas director at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.