Japan could cut LNG import cost 7%-15% by 2020

摘要

Tokyo—Japan might be able to cut its LNG import costs by between 7% and 15% by 2020 if local companies take the maximum possible volume from their planned projects in the US under pricing indexed to the spot Henry Hub gas benchmark, the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) said. The DBJ’s report was published February 18 and comes as a number of Japanese electricity and gas utilities express their intention to introduce gas benchmarks to lower their rising LNG import costs, and after the country logged a record trade deficit in 2012. Japan recorded its first trade deficit in 31 years in 2011.