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Yuka Obayashi
For Yuka Obayashi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan aims to have 10 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power projects by 2030 and up to 45 GW by 2040, to replace fossil fuels including coal and liquefied natural gas in its energy mix — for which floating offshore wind is essential.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 13, 2024
Japan to expand offshore wind development to exclusive economic zones
Global energy companies have been urging Japan to make investments more attractive, amid soaring costs and growing competition between suppliers.
Dai Karasawa, president of SSE Pacifico K.K., a joint venture of U.K. energy group SSE and Japan's Pacifico Energy, speaks about their plan to develop offshore wind farms in Japan during an interview in Tokyo, last week.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 11, 2024
SSE's Japan unit aims to develop 6GW offshore wind farms
Japan is aiming to become a major offshore wind power producer, with the government targeting 10 GW by 2030 and up to 45 GW by 2040.
A LNG tanker at the Negishi LNG Terminal, which is jointly operated by Tokyo Gas and JERA, in Yokohama
BUSINESS
Mar 11, 2024
Japan boosts reliance on allies for long-term LNG supplies
LNG accounts for about a third of Japan's power generation and it is the world's second-largest importer behind China.
Nippon Steel Executive Vice President Takahiro Mori, who is set to meet the United Steelworkers (USW) union chief this month, says the Japanese steel producer plans to uphold all of the current agreements between the union and U.S. Steel.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 5, 2024
Nippon Steel exec to meet USW head to seek support for U.S. Steel deal
Winning the union's backing is a priority for the Japanese steel producer because then the acquisition will be "no longer a political issue."
J-Power is making a AU$380.9 million bid for Australian renewable energy firm Genex Power.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 4, 2024
J-Power makes bid for Australian renewables firm Genex
The move comes as part of the Japanese company's efforts to boost its renewable energy assets.
Nippon Steel is on track to finalize its planned $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by the end of September, an executive has said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 7, 2024
Nippon Steel says on track to close U.S. Steel deal by September
The deal by the world's No.4 steelmaker to buy U.S. Steel has drawn criticism from some in the United States.
Wind turbines at an RWE wind farm off the coast of Great Yarmouth, England. RWE operates 3.3 gigawatts of offshore wind power in Europe.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 19, 2024
RWE plans further Japan offshore wind push after Niigata win
The German renewable energy company believes floating offshore projects will be the key to achieving the nation's goal of generating 45 GW of wind power by 2040.
A JFE Steel plant in the city of Chiba. JFE Steel plans to buy more coking coal on the spot market to increase the liquidity of the market and to reflect true demand and supply.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 29, 2023
Japan's JFE takes new tack to tame volatile coking coal prices
Japan's No.2 steelmaker plans to buy more coking coal from the spot market to boost activity and make prices more transparent.
Offshore wind turbines at the Scroby Sands Wind Farm, operated by E.ON SE, near Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom.  Foreign wind power companies say Japan's development process for offshore wind power takes much longer than in other countries, leading to more uncertainty and risks.
BUSINESS
Dec 1, 2023
Foreign wind power players urge Japan to scale up offshore auctions
"If you want to create appetite from investors you need to propose larger plants"
Cosmo Energy is calling another shareholder vote on Dec. 14 to seek approval to discourage an activist group, led by Yoshiaki Murakami, from increasing its stake to 24.56% from the current 20%.
BUSINESS
Nov 10, 2023
Japan's Cosmo braces for 'poison pill' anti-activist vote
The refiner is calling another shareholder vote on Dec. 14 to seek approval to discourage an activist group from increasing its stake.
Trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura speaks at a ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday to launch a new platform for the trade of carbon credits.
BUSINESS
Oct 11, 2023
Carbon pricing platform kicks off at Tokyo Stock Exchange
More than 180 organizations, including oil firms and regional banks, have decided to participate in the platform.
Liquefied natural gas tanks in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture
BUSINESS
Sep 27, 2023
Industry ministry sees LNG stocks recovering toward winter
LNG stocks have been declining since May as a long, hot summer boosted the use of air-conditioners, lifting demand for power and fuels.
Kansai Electric Power's Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 3, 2023
Japan's nuclear restarts this year to hasten LNG import decline
Kansai Electric Power's plan next month to relaunch the last idle reactor at its flagship nuclear plant will mark an energy shift in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 8, 2023
European Energy Exchange sees huge growth in Japanese power futures trade this year
Volatility in electricity prices spiked in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, delivering a 'wake up call' on the need for hedging.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 25, 2023
Cosmo CEO says controversial vote tactics justified in activist defense
A vote on a 'poison pill' takeover defense will exclude Cosmo's largest shareholder grouping.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 28, 2023
Kyushu Electric to raise ¥200 billion to fund green transition
Japanese utilities were hit by high fuel costs last year as a post-pandemic energy crisis was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 15, 2023
Osaka Gas to secure more LNG in fiscal 2023 amid tight global supply
The LNG contract that Osaka Gas, JERA and Tokyo Gas have signed to buy a combined 3.4 million tonnes per year from Brunei for 10 years from April 2013 is due to expire this month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 9, 2023
Inpex sees 2023 net profit down by 38% on weaker oil and stronger yen
Japan's top exploration and production company sees the average Brent oil price falling to $75 per barrel in 2023 from $99 per barrel last year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 20, 2022
Japan sounds out refiners on buying Russian oil from Sakhalin-2, sources say
The Sakhalin Island complex, partly owned by Gazprom and Japanese companies, is vital to Japan's energy security as it accounts for 9% of the country's liquefied natural gas imports.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 25, 2022
Nippon Steel eyes more stakes in coking coal mines to secure stable supply
The steelmaker says sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine have squeezed an already-tight supply of commodities such as metallurgical coal.

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