Ahead of winter, when demand for energy increases, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has requested electric power and gas companies to procure LNG (liquefied natural gas) stably.
Although we have secured the necessary inventory at the moment, we do not allow for optimism.
Against the backdrop of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and other factors, the supply and demand of LNG, which is the fuel for thermal power generation and the raw material for city gas, is tight around the world. It is rising.
On the 21st, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry gathered executives of electric power companies and city gas companies to hold a public-private liaison conference and requested the companies to procure LNG stably.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the inventory status of each company is currently above the average for the past five years, and the necessary amount has been secured.
State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shinichi Nakatani said, "If the weather turns out to be colder than expected, LNG consumption may increase, so we ask that you continue to procure LNG systematically and steadily." showed recognition.
In response, Kazuhiro Ikebe, Chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, stated that there is a limit to what the private sector can do alone in procuring LNG, and called for consideration of long-term risk sharing between the public and private sectors.
Towards this winter, electric power and gas companies have decided to establish a system to exchange LNG in an emergency across industries.