Japan has managed anew to successfully extract natural gas from frozen methane hydrate off its central coast, Pacific Ocean, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry announced on Thursday.

The gas field is about 30km under the Japanese 1000-meter deep sea floor, said the ministry, adding that flare tests have been conducted successfully, reported WAM, the Emirates official news agency.

Methane hydrates are a type of frozen gas and water, reported

In a world first, Japan announced in March 2013 that it successfully extracted natural gas from frozen methane hydrate off its central coast.

Researchers say the new finds could provide an alternative energy source for Japan which imports 90 per cent energy needs.