Japan LNG Imports To Fall 10% In 2019 As Nuclear Power Comes Online - US Energy Department

Japan LNG Imports to Fall 10% in 2019 as Nuclear Power Comes Online - US Energy Department

Japanese imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are expected to drop up to 10 percent this year as the nation continues to restart 35 available nuclear reactors, all of which were shut down following a 2011 earthquake that caused a meltdown of reactor cores at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Monday

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2019) Japanese imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are expected to drop up to 10 percent this year as the nation continues to restart 35 available nuclear reactors, all of which were shut down following a 2011 earthquake that caused a meltdown of reactor cores at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Monday.

"Because Japan imports all of its natural gas in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), increased nuclear power production is likely to reduce Japanese imports of LNG in the electric power sector by as much as 10 percent in 2019," the report said.

The EIA noted in the report that Japan suspended operations at all 35 nuclear reactors for mandatory safety inspections and upgrades, following the 2011 earthquake that caused reactor core meltdowns at the Fukushima complex.

As a result, Japan had no nuclear generation from September 2013 to August 2015, and was forced to rely on imported LNG and other fossil fuels to cover a resulting shortfall in electricity.

Japan restarted five nuclear reactors in 2018, bringing to nine the number of nuclear power generating facilities now in operation. In addition, six reactors have received initial approval to resume operations and applications for an additional 12 are under review by regulators.

Japan's long-term energy policy calls for the nuclear share of total electricity generation to reach 20 percent to 22 percent by 2030, which would require up to 30 reactors to be in operation.