Japan wastes chance for energy rethink
The end of the Abe era is unlikely to lead the country to increase its unambitious target for renewables
Moves by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elite—in choosing a replacement for outgoing prime minister Shinzo Abe—to favour the voices of party lawmakers over rank and file members mean that a rare chance for a radical energy policy rethink is being lost. Abe’s chosen successor will complete the country’s longest serving prime minister’s curtailed term of office, which runs until September 2021. In normal circumstances, party lawmakers and rank and file members would have equal numbers of votes to make that choice. But Abe’s decision to resign due to ill health is being used to justify a reweighting of influence. The election process that starts on 8 September gives 394 votes to

Also in this section
14 July 2025
Robust demand and a limited supply of additional physical barrels from key OPEC+ producers has kept the oil market in a healthy price range
11 July 2025
Equinor and its partners at Norway’s largest oilfield have pulled the trigger on a fresh $1.3b investment that will maintain high output for longer
11 July 2025
Reassessment of the country’s export-facing gas policy coincides with worsening domestic market backdrop
10 July 2025
Without sanctions relief, there is little reason to believe the latest potential attempt at exports from the Russian liquefaction project will be more successful than the one last summer