Japan plans to increase LNG procurement by four times

【发表时间 2025-01-03 10:04:37】

Japan plans to increase its liquefied natural gas (LNG) procurement by four times to enhance energy security. Increasing LNG procurement will help Japan enrich its energy supply channels and reduce its excessive dependence on a single source of energy supply.

Japan is resource scarce and its energy security situation is quite severe. About 90% of its energy demand relies on imports, and its energy supply is highly susceptible to factors such as international market fluctuations, geopolitical changes, and policy changes in energy exporting countries.

At present, natural gas accounts for about one-third of Japan's electricity structure, while fossil fuels account for about 70% of Japan's electricity structure. Japan currently purchases 3 batches of LNG annually, and if the plan to purchase additional LNG is implemented, it will purchase at least 12 batches of LNG annually in the future. The proposal of this plan aims to improve the stability of Japan's energy supply. In addition, with the increase of LNG procurement volume, Japan's role in the global LNG market will change, or become the world's second largest LNG importer, further enhancing its influence in the global energy market.

Although fossil fuels currently account for a relatively high proportion of Japan's electricity structure, increasing LNG procurement can provide a buffer period for energy structure adjustment. In the process of vigorously developing renewable energy and restarting nuclear power plants, LNG can serve as a transitional energy source to ensure the stability of power supply. On the one hand, the development of renewable energy is limited by natural conditions, technological maturity, and other factors, resulting in intermittent and unstable issues; On the other hand, restarting a nuclear power plant requires time for safety assessments, equipment maintenance, and public communication. During this period, LNG can fill the energy supply gap, ensure that power supply is not greatly affected, and create favorable conditions for optimizing the energy structure.

However, while pursuing energy security, Japan also faces the dual pressure of achieving energy transition and environmental goals. Although increasing LNG procurement can solve energy supply problems in the short term, it conflicts with achieving net zero emissions targets. As a fossil energy source, LNG has certain advantages in carbon emissions, but it also generates greenhouse gas emissions. Against the backdrop of global efforts to address climate change, Japan needs to accelerate its energy transition, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and increase the proportion of renewable energy.