East meets west

摘要

Japanese utilities have linked two major natural gas grids, as the industry seeks to bolster LNG supply backup systems and boost demand before a planned retail market liberalisation. Gas retailers Shizuoka Gas and Chubu Gas last month completed a 109km pipeline in Shizuoka prefecture, linking the former’s network at the 1mn t/yr Sodeshi LNG import terminal and the latter’s distribution station at Hamamatsu. The ￥44bn ($360mn) link allows Chubu Gas to acquire regasified LNG from Shizuoka Gas, in addition to existing supply from Toho Gas, increasing supply security.