On Monday in Nagoya, energy ministers from nine countries in Asia and the rest of the world will convene for the seventh annual LNG Producer Consumer Conference, which will also be attended by officials from international organizations and private-sector participants. The central topic under discussion is what measures can we collectively undertake to expand liquefied natural gas use and meet the growing requirements for energy among Asia's fast-growing economies.

For the last two years, our respective research organizations, the Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ) and the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. (EPRINC) in Washington have been privileged to be part of this effort. We have joined forces to produce assessment on the future role of LNG in Asian power and fuel markets.

This is more than a paper exercise; our respective governments are looking for concrete policy recommendations to address the emerging demands of a growing LNG market. These recommendations will directly support the Japan-U.S. Strategic Energy Partnership in which both countries bring their unique expertise to the development of natural gas-fired electricity generation, regasification facilities in Asia and new LNG supplies from the U.S. shale gas revolution.