Tag - energy

 
 

ENERGY

An oil refinery behind Hamadera Park in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture
JAPAN
May 17, 2025
One dead after possible gas leak at Eneos refinery
The company believes they may have inhaled hydrogen sulfide gas, according to informed sources.
Starting in the early 1980s, shipping nuclear waste for storage on Orchid Island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan was standard practice.
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
May 16, 2025
Final nuclear plant shutdown leaves Taiwan facing energy crunch
The shutdown takes place just as power demand is projected to rise 13% by the end of the decade, largely driven by data centers and chipmakers.
Solar panels on display at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, on April 16
BUSINESS / Tech
May 15, 2025
Rogue communication equipment found in Chinese-made solar power inverters
The rogue components provide undocumented communication channels that could allow security measures to be circumvented remotely, sources said.
A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is tugged toward a thermal power station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, in 2017.
BUSINESS
May 14, 2025
Japan under pressure from U.S. to invest in Alaska LNG pipeline
Doubts over the pipeline's profitability and viability leaves Japan's participation in the $44 billion (nearly ¥6.7 trillion) project uncertain.
Solar Park Kasso ApS's e-methanol production plant, located on the outskirts of Aabenraa in Denmark, on Monday
BUSINESS / Companies
May 14, 2025
Mitsui starts mass production of e-methanol with Danish firm
The amount of CO2 emitted from e-methanol production is up to 97% less than that from methanol produced using fossil fuels.
A nuclear reactor in New Taipei City
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 14, 2025
Taiwan opens door to restart atomic power plants in reversal
Under the new law, plants that could previously only operate for 40 years will be allowed to renew or extend their licenses for up to 20 years at a time.
Supervisor David Lindsay in the chilling plant beneath the headquarters of the United Nations in New York
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
May 13, 2025
As world heats up, U.N. cools itself the cool way — with water
As more and more people want to stay cool in a planet that is steadily heating up, energy experts point to this kind of water-based system as a good alternative.
Power lines connecting pylons of high-tension electricity are seen during sunset at an electricity substation on the outskirts of Ronda, Spain, during a blackout in the city on April 28.
WORLD
May 6, 2025
EU power grid needs trillion-dollar upgrade to avert Spain-style blackouts
Authorities in Spain and Portugal are investigating the cause of last week's blackout, but whatever the findings, analysts say infrastructure investment is essential.
A solar panel on display at a home improvement center in Bangkok
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
May 4, 2025
U.S. solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
China makes eight out of every 10 solar panels globally, and controls 80% of every stage of the manufacturing process.
A wind turbine blade fell in the city of Akita on Friday.
JAPAN
May 2, 2025
Man dies after wind turbine blade falls in an Akita park
According to the police, the victim was discovered roughly 1 meter away from the fallen blade.
The Tomari nuclear power plant in Tomari, Hokkaido, in March 2024
JAPAN
Apr 30, 2025
Japan approves restart of nuclear reactor for first time in four years
The Nuclear Regulation Authority approved a preliminary report saying Hokkaido Electric Power’s Tomari No. 3 reactor meets post-Fukushima safety rules.
Trade minister Yoji Muto
BUSINESS
Apr 30, 2025
Japan keen to team up with ASEAN for free trade system
ASEAN said it will continue constructive dialogue with Washington while maintaining the rules-based multilateral trade system.
Travelers prepare to spend the night at the Atocha train station in Madrid on Monday following a massive power cut.
WORLD
Apr 29, 2025
Spain and Portugal hunt for cause of power outage as electricity returns
In Spain, schools and offices reopened, public transport restarted after long delays, traffic gridlock eased and many hospitals had recovered power.
Sunset at Dudley Page Reserve, in Dover Heights, Sydney, on April 21
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 29, 2025
Australia’s economic ‘miracle’ is ending no matter who wins vote
Polls suggest the May 3 election will be tight, with many pundits predicting the winner will lead a minority government.
Jera, the world's biggest liquefied natural gas buyer, sees U.S. President Donald Trump's pet project in Alaska one of the promising procurement sources.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 28, 2025
Japan’s top gas buyer mulls procuring LNG from Alaska export project
"We see Alaska as one of the promising procurement sources,” Naohiro Maekawa, an executive officer at Jera, said at a news conference on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has touted the $44 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas project, which would deliver gas from the state's North Slope fields via a 1,300 kilometer pipeline for domestic use and send it to customers in Asia as LNG, bypassing the Panama Canal.
WORLD
Apr 25, 2025
U.S. expected to press Japan and South Korea for support of Alaska LNG project
The $44 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas project would send gas to customers in Asia as LNG, bypassing the Panama Canal.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food in Tokyo gained 3.4% in April from a year earlier, as a mixture of impacts from last year’s school fee cuts and higher food and energy costs accelerated inflation, according to the internal affairs ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 25, 2025
Tokyo prices rise most in two years, backing central bank's hike path
Consumer prices excluding fresh food gained 3.4% in April from a year earlier. Tokyo's figures are a leading indicator for national price gains.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on April 17
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 23, 2025
Opposition slams Ishiba's gas price cut while calling to scrap provisional tax
Ishiba's decision would lower gas prices by ¥10 per liter starting May 22, but nixing the provisional gas tax would lower prices by ¥25.
Japan has started discussing specific measures to expand liquefied natural gas imports from the United States to reduce its trade surplus, as demanded by Washington.
BUSINESS
Apr 23, 2025
Japan mulls expanding imports of LNG from the U.S. for tariff negotiations
In 2024, Japan imported ¥542.6 billion of LNG from the U.S.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba receives a gift from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the start of their meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 22, 2025
Nvidia CEO urges LDP to build up Japan’s AI infrastructure
Japan has pledged to increase government and corporate funding in AI to over ¥50 trillion ($350 billion) in the next 10 years.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji