First nuclear plant to reopen in Japan after Fukushima

Japan has brought back the first of its nuclear plants which were closed in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. However, analysts doubt if this will affect LNG imports

Japan will start producing nuclear energy for the first time in almost two years as Kyushu Electric Power prepares to restart its number one reactor at its Sendai plant in September. But this will only have a marginal effect on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade in the short term. And in the longer term, LNG will not regain its former position. Japan, the world’s biggest buyer of LNG, imported a record 89m metric tons (mt) in the fiscal year ending 31 March up 1.5% over the year before. The country paid a record $65bn for the imports, as the effects of lower crude prices, which are tied to LNG deals, had yet to trickle through. Still, restarting one of the Sendai nuclear plant’s two 30-ye