U.S., in a bid to expand its global LNG export base, has recently expressed its interest to collaborate with Japan to tap Asia natural gas market. Reportedly, U.S. has been looking forward to Japan making lucrative investments in America natural gas infrastructure. The Asian country, allegedly has been importing liquefied natural gas from Alaska over the past four decades. However, as per the reliable sources, over the recent years, U.S. natural gas exports had been restricted. In this regard, Trump’s efforts to push natural energy matrix have led to a substantial increase in U.S. energy exports, cite experts.
Allegedly, global demand for LPG has witnessed a massive surge over the past few years, and experts claim the expansionary trend is likely to continue, especially in APAC belt. Experts claim that U.S. interest in Japan’s rich natural gas industry is majorly on the grounds of the latter being the largest importer of LNG globally. Reportedly, Japan’s natural gas import has soared up drastically post the two most significant natural calamities of 2011, which had resulted in the shutdown of all nuclear plants in Japan.
As reported, Japan is presently focusing on enhancing LNG facilities, more precisely the price trends of LNG which has, of late, turned out to be a global concern. Another issue that experts believe to have fueled the long-term energy relationship between U.S. and Japan is the fact that most of the emerging natural gas markets in APAC lack LNG terminals and the present infrastructure demands increased LNG imports. Japan, on the contrary, has been making significant investments in LNG terminal infrastructure, cite sources. Recently, the nation has made it to the headlines with its announcement of investing USD 10 billion in LNG power plants, in order to address the growing energy demand in APAC belt.
As far as U.S.’s efforts to expand its export facilities is concerned, the nation is presently facing challenges from local communities, especially across West Coast which object large LNG project investment on environmental grounds. However, regional energy biggies are striving to continue LNG export from big terminals like Louisiana, Texas, cite experts.