The air has definitely become cleaner and the skies bluer in Japan as various industries have strived since the late 1960s to become energy efficient and eco-friendly. Today, cars are also becoming exhaust-free by adopting hybrid and fuel cell technology. "Compared to the 20th century known as the era of oil, the 21st century is expected to become the era of gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is one of the major players in promoting the clean energy movement of various industries, and Japan leads the way in the development and application of LNG technology in countless fields," explained a professional with 40 years in the field.
Once considered a wasteful byproduct that was burned when drilling for oil, natural gas is still a very new player on the energy supply stage. "But its reserves are huge and it is unlikely to be depleted for several centuries. That is why Japan positions it as a vital energy source for its industries," noted a fuel buyer with over 20 years of experience.
However, due to its abundance, "natural gas has almost been free in such gas-rich countries as Russia, the U.S., Qatar and Indonesia. But it has to be liquefied for transport, refinement and use in a country like Japan that is completely dependent on imports from other countries for its supply. Compared to oil that already is a well-established industry, liquefaction is an entirely different process, and the facilities required to utilize natural gas as an energy source are starkly different from those for oil. Altogether, natural gas exploitation becomes very costly," continued the fuel buyer.