Tag - lng

 
 

LNG

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly turned down the U.S.' request to cease imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia.
BUSINESS
Oct 29, 2025
Takaichi pushed back on U.S. request to ban Russian energy imports, report says
Russian LNG accounts for nearly 9% of Japan's total LNG imports, with companies Mitsui and Mitsubishi having stakes in the Sakhalin-2 project.
Chugoku Electric Power's Shimane nuclear power station in the city of Matsue. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to push for the accelerated revival of nuclear power as an energy source.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 23, 2025
Nuclear power at heart of new prime minister's energy policy
Imported fossil fuels cover 60% to 70% of Japan's electricity generation and are a source of inflation that has undermined support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of Saint-Nazaire, France, on Oct. 2.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 20, 2025
EU seeks maritime declaration to inspect Russia's 'shadow fleet'
Beefing up inspection rights is the latest EU proposal aimed at curbing Russian oil and gas revenue being used by Moscow to finance its war in Ukraine.
The Sakhalin-2 project is vital to Japan's energy security as it accounts for about 9% of its LNG imports.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 16, 2025
U.S. expects Japan to stop buying Russian energy, Bessent says
Russia's Sakhalin-2 project remains vital to Japan's energy security as it accounts for about 9% of its liquefied natural gas imports.
The Gas Pavilion had welcomed around 500,000 visitors by the end of August, making it one of the most popular exhibits at the Osaka Expo.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Oct 12, 2025
At Osaka Expo, gas giants promote a greener future. But is it a lot of hot air?
While major Japanese gas companies have lauded e-methane as key in fighting climate change, experts paint a different picture.
Paulina “Jedda” Puruntatameri with Antonia Burke and Tiwi fisher Clinton offshore of Melville Island, one of the Tiwi Islands, in Australia's Northern Territory. Together with other Tiwi, Jedda has been campaigning for years to stop Australian company Santos and its backers, including Japanese investors, from drilling for natural gas at the Barossa gas field.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Sep 21, 2025
As Japan keeps buying gas, Aboriginal Australians pay the price
Japan is Australia’s second-largest export market for energy and natural resources, giving Tokyo a certain political weight when it comes to Australian energy matters.
Nippon Yusen CEO Takaya Soga says the company is planning to boost its LNG fleet to more than 130 vessels by early 2029, up from 89.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 18, 2025
Japan’s top shipping company to expand LNG fleet as global demand climbs
Nippon Yusen is planning to boost its fleet to more than 130 vessels by early 2029, up from 89.
Japan has hired energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie to assess a proposed $44 billion Alaska gas pipeline and LNG project backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, sources say.
BUSINESS
Sep 9, 2025
Japan hires Wood Mackenzie to assess Trump-backed Alaska LNG project: sources
The scope and cost of the deal with Wood Mackenzie is unclear, as is whether any resulting report will be made public.
A liquefied natural gas plant in Sakhalin, Russia. U.S. and Russian officials discussed energy deals on the sidelines of the Ukraine peace talks, sources said.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 26, 2025
U.S. and Russian officials discussed energy deals alongside latest Ukraine peace talks
Russia has been cut off from most international investment in its energy sector and from striking major deals due to sanctions following the Ukraine invasion.
The Bishu Maru LNG tanker, owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, next to the Freeport LNG terminal in Texas
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Aug 3, 2025
How Trump is gaslighting on climate change — with Japan’s help
As the U.S. president ramps up high-polluting LNG projects, Japan is among the nations he's pressuring for investments. The economic case for the push, however, is far from clear.
Workers take a break near a ship under construction at China State Shipbuilding Corp.'s Longxue Shipyard in Guangzhou, China, in November 2011.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jul 2, 2025
China’s shipyard dominance leads to geoeconomic risks
According to 2024 data from the Chinese government, the country ranks first worldwide in ship completions, new orders and order backlogs.
Workers build a scaffolding platform during construction at the Yamal LNG plant, operated by Novatek, in Sabetta, Russia, in August 2018.
BUSINESS
Jun 29, 2025
Russia tries again to expand LNG exports upended by sanctions
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian gas pipeline exports to Europe have dwindled, and shipping more fuel via seaborne LNG tankers provides an attractive revenue stream.
The government plans to spend ¥288.1 billion from its fiscal 2025 budget reserves for electricity and gas subsidies, which will help lower energy bills next month.
JAPAN
Jun 27, 2025
Household electricity bills in Japan set to fall in July due to subsidies
The nation's 10 major electricity suppliers said Friday that power bills for standard households will fall by between ¥520 and ¥691 in July from the previous month.
Tokyo Gas is in talks with at least four U.S. liquefied natural gas suppliers to secure a purchase deal, according to sources.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2025
Tokyo gas in talks to seal long-term U.S. LNG purchase deals
Japan’s largest gas distributor is in talks with at least four companies over supply from projects dotting the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to sources.
Japan sees liquefied natural gas as vital to energy security.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 20, 2025
Japan seeks gas past 2050, with AI and data centers set to lift demand
The government expects a boom in artificial intelligence, data centers and semiconductor chip-making factories to revive power demand.
Mitsubishi could announce a deal to buy the assets of Aethon Energy Management in the next couple of months, sources have said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 17, 2025
Mitsubishi said to be in advanced talks on $8 billion Aethon deal
The Japanese conglomerate could announce a deal with the U.S. energy-focused investment firm in the next couple of months, according to sources.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, hold talks on Monday in Kananaskis, Canada.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2025
Japanese and Canadian leaders agree to enhance security ties
The prime ministers confirmed that their countries will sign early an agreement to share classified information.
Jera's LNG agreements with U.S. suppliers bolster Japan’s role as the world’s second-largest LNG importer, and come as U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing to expand exports of the fuel.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 12, 2025
Jera touts 20-year LNG agreements with U.S. suppliers
Japan’s largest power generation company has reached agreements to buy as much as 5.5 million tons per year of liquefied natural gas from U.S. suppliers.
World Bank President Ajay Banga at the Milken Institute Global Conference in California on May 5
BUSINESS
Jun 12, 2025
World Bank to end ban on nuclear energy projects, but undecided on upstream gas
The global development bank, which lends at low rates to help countries build everything from flood barriers to railroads, decided in 2013 to stop funding nuclear power projects.
Tugboats assist a liquified natural gas tanker as it docks at a port in Yantai, China, in February. In 2021, China became the largest importer of LNG, and as of this year, China now has the most long-term LNG contracts.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
Jun 1, 2025
China is eroding Japan's LNG dominance. How does that affect Japanese buyers?
Japanese companies have long held the leading position in the buying and trading of one of the world's key energy sources, but that era of hegemony has come to an end.

Longform

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