Japan considers increasing coal-fired power as war disrupts LNG imports
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
TOKYO, March 27 : Japan's industry ministry will propose increasing coal-fired power generation use in the fiscal year starting April, as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran adds uncertainty to liquefied natural gas imports, it said in a plan to be submitted on Friday.
Japan takes delivery of some 4 million metric tons of LNG annually - or around 6 per cent of its total imports - via the Strait of Hormuz which has been effectively closed due to the war.
In a plan to be presented to a special government expert group, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry proposes suspending for one year its 50 per cent limit on the capacity utilisation rate of coal-fired power plants.
LNG consumption could then fall by about 0.5 million tons a year, or slightly more than 10 per cent of the LNG it imports via the Strait of Hormuz, METI said.
It was not clear how soon the proposal might be approved. The Nikkei, which first reported the plan on Thursday, said the prime minister was scheduled to make a related announcement.
Japan has an LNG stockpile of around 4 million tons, METI data showed. Its thermal power generation largely depends on LNG and coal, with a small portion covered by oil.
Newsletter
Week in Review
Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in Review
Our chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app