Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Security trumps all in Japan’s LNG strategy
Tokyo and Japan’s utilities continue to back LNG projects, even as the country’s demand declines
Japan is highly dependent on energy imports and was a key pioneer in the LNG sector. However, the country’s demand for the liquefied fuel is in decline, and poised to slide further, even as Tokyo doubles down on its backing for LNG projects. Japan, ever conscious of its energy security, will soon have a contracted surplus of LNG, and its utilities are already shifting to take on the role of marketing and reselling the fuel. Japan is working on updating its Strategic Energy Plan, with the seventh iteration due before the end of March next year. The Sixth Strategic Energy Plan was adopted into law in October 2021, with a focus on reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. But the Japanese governmen
Also in this section
3 June 2025
China will play a huge role in driving gas demand, with its Qatar partnership crucial to this growth amid global structural challenges
3 June 2025
Datacentres to drive demand for gas and position the fuel as more than just a bridging solution
2 June 2025
It is time to acknowledge that the US-Saudi Arabia nexus is driving a fundamental shift in OPEC strategy
2 June 2025
More than anything else, weak Chinese gas demand is providing relief to EU consumers, but it is uncertain how long this relief will last
