Commentary / World Aug 24, 2017

Renewables won't end geopolitics of energy

by Meghan L. O'Sullivan

There are many reasons to be enthusiastic about a shift toward renewables. Unfortunately, an escape from energy politics is not likely among them.

Business Aug 17, 2017

Inpex eyes bid for Iran's Azadegan oil project

by Tetsuo Shintomi

Japan's Inpex Corp. might participate in a tender to develop the Azadegan oil field in southwestern Iran and form a consortium with other foreign oil firms to that end, a high-ranking Iranian official says. If Inpex gets involved in the Azadegan again — after giving ...

Business Jul 14, 2017

Japan-Russian oil exploration project meets with U.S. resistance

A Japanese group's plans to explore for Russian oil with state-run Rosneft PJSC have been stymied by U.S. intervention over sanctions, according to people familiar with the matter. Washington's objection to the Japanese project to explore for oil in the ocean off the Russian Far ...

National Jul 10, 2017

Koike kicks off free lightbulb-switching campaign with Pikotaro

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday kicked off a campaign to encourage residents to replace their incandescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting for free. Later the same day, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike held a launch ceremony at City Hall with comedian Pikotaro to explain the ...

Asia Pacific | FOCUS Jul 2, 2017

China taps 'flammable ice' for energy needs as hunt for elusive fossil fuel heats up

China is drilling deep into the ocean floor in the hope of tapping vast deposits of a frozen fossil fuel known as "flammable ice" but it will be years before it is part of the global energy mix. Gas hydrates are found in the seabed ...

National / Crime & Legal Jun 30, 2017

Ex-Tepco execs plead innocent as 3/11 nuclear negligence trial kicks off

by Daisuke Kikuchi

Three former Tokyo Electric execs go on trial over the triple core meltdown in Fukushima, claiming they could not foresee that giant tsunami would overwhelm the plant.

Business Jun 30, 2017

Trump rebrands predecessor's policy to push U.S. 'energy dominance' as exporter

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday launched what he called a "golden era" of energy policy seeking to assert power abroad through a boost in natural gas, coal and petroleum exports. In a policy Trump calls "energy dominance," he rebranded efforts to export liquefied natural ...

Business / Corporate Jun 23, 2017

New Tepco chief reaffirms Fukushima commitment, but underscored need for plant restarts

by Shusuke Murai

Dealing with the aftermath of nuclear disaster at Fukushima No.1 power plant remains the most important mission for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., Tomoaki Kobayakawa, Tepco's new president, said Friday, but he also stressed the need to restart nuclear plants for the sake ...

Business Jun 23, 2017

World's biggest wind turbine maker Vestas sets sights on Asia-Pacific, Middle East markets

by Christian Wienberg

The chief executive officer of Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems A/S says the world's biggest wind turbine maker wants to expand in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region as it taps into growing demand for renewable energy in new markets. Vestas intends to be a ...

Business / Corporate Jun 19, 2017

Panasonic cranks up market exposure for home fuel of the future

by Chisaki Watanabe

Panasonic Corp. will begin selling its residential fuel cell systems in the U.K. and Austria this year as it seeks to solidify its lead in a product category that some see as a stepping stone to harnessing hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Sales ...

Business Jun 18, 2017

With eye to grabbing slice of market, China focuses on developing small nuclear reactors

China is betting on new, small-scale nuclear reactor designs that could be used in isolated regions, on ships and even aircraft as part of an ambitious plan to wrest control of the global nuclear market. Within weeks, state-owned China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) is set ...