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
15 May 2025
Financial problems, lack of exploration success and political dogma cause uncertainty across much of the region
14 May 2025
The invisible hand of the market has seen increasing transparency but much more needs to be done to build a better understanding
13 May 2025
A fall in Venezuelan output drives overall production lower, as Saudi Arabia starts to slowly bring more crude to the market
12 May 2025
With the gas industry’s staunchest advocates and opponents taking brutal blows, the sector looks like treading a path of insipid indifference
