Energy

A Japanese national flag flutters near a flare from a chimney at a steel plant in Kawasaki. The country is targeting net zero emissions by 2050.
Climate Change

Japan plans first carbon capture and storage project

Refiner Eneos and utility J-Power aim to begin operations by 2030

11 May 2022
An image of a NuScale power plant that would host small modular reactors. (Photo courtesy of NuScale)
Engineering & Construction

Samsung C&T joins NuScale effort to build small nuclear reactors

South Korean company invests in U.S. startup, gaining role in planned projects

11 May 2022
A liquefied natural gas plant in Sakhalin. Japan's investments in development projects on the island were aimed at diversifying the nation's energy procurement.  
Energy

Japan faces dilemma in Sakhalin as G-7 vows to quit Russian crude

Continued stakes in pivotal oil and gas projects highlight Tokyo's energy woes

10 May 2022
A view of the G-7 video conference on Ukraine from Paris on May 8.
Ukraine war

Japan to keep stake in Russia's Sakhalin oil, gas projects: Kishida

PM indicates no timeline for energy ban after G-7 pledge of support

9 May 2022
PetroChina says it does not plan to snap up cheap Russian oil.
Energy

PetroChina has no plan to buy extra Russian fuel at discount: CFO

State oil producer says Moscow sanctions affecting dollar and euro payments

7 May 2022
CF Industries' plant in the U.S. state of Louisiana. (Photo courtesy of CF Industries)
Energy

Mitsui to produce clean-burning ammonia with U.S. partner

Japanese trading house will supply power plants and factories in Asia

6 May 2022
A ReNew solar power facility in the Indian state of Rajasthan. (Photo courtesy of ReNew Power)
Climate Change

Mitsui pledges constant renewable power supply in India

Japanese trading house invests in $1.35bn project spanning three states

5 May 2022
The OPEC+ alliance is expected to ratify plans for a production increase for June of 430,000 barrels a day. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Commodities

OPEC offers Europe little hope of quitting Russian oil

Cartel set to keep policy of only modest production increases at meeting

5 May 2022
Tugboats guide a liquefied natural gas tanker at the Cheniere Sabine Pass LNG export unit in Louisiana. Japanese firms are involved in an LNG project in the U.S. state.
Energy

Japan considers financial support to boost U.S. LNG output

Tokyo and Washington to discuss cutting energy dependence on Russia

5 May 2022
Western energy companies have started pulling out of the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 (pictured) oil and gas projects in Russia's Far East. Japan's international reputation could be on the line if it does not follow suit.
The Big Story

Walking a tightrope: Ukraine war puts Japan's energy security on thin ice

As Western sanctions on Russia pile up, Tokyo weighs pulling out of Sakhalin projects

4 May 2022
Idemitsu Kosan will convert the Tokuyama Complex in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, into an ammonium intake terminal. (Photo courtesy of Idemitsu Kosan)
Climate Change

Japanese oil refiners convert sites into next-generation energy hubs

Ammonia, hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel being eyed by companies

4 May 2022
With Vietnam building LNG power plants, much of the fuel is expected to come from the U.S. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanafusa)
Energy

Vietnam turns to LNG power plants, seeking to shake coal dependence

Rising prices loom over Southeast Asia's growing appetite for natural gas

3 May 2022
The rapid weakening of the Japanese currency has weighed on domestic households. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Economy

Weak yen and oil rally to cost Japanese families $460 this year

Offshoring has diminished the benefit of currency's decline for manufacturers

29 April 2022
Half the oil Japan imports from Russia comes from the Sakhalin-1 project. (Photo courtesy of Exxon Neftegas via Kyodo)
Ukraine war

Exxon downsizes staff as it prepares to exit Russia's Sakhalin-1

Oil giant starts cutting production as it declares force majeure

29 April 2022
Sinopec runs this compressing station at a shale gas field in Chongqing, China. The country is also increasing natural gas imports from Russia.
Energy

Sinopec resells LNG to Europe despite China's sanctions snub

Top oil refiner says transactions are purely market driven

29 April 2022
CNOOC's Liuhua 16-2 oil field in the South China Sea. Chinese oil companies are reportedly in talks with Western peers seeking to exit Russia. (Photo courtesy of CNOOC)
Energy

China oil major CNOOC has 'no plan to exit' any region: executive

Company 'closely monitoring' developments with Western energy assets in Russia

28 April 2022
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ahead of their meeting on April 28. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai) 
Energy

Germany, Japan tap hydrogen to reduce Russia dependence

Scholz and Kishida agree to launch intergovernmental consultations next year

28 April 2022
A coal yard in Hanoi. A drop in domestic coal mining due to a coronavirus outbreak has added to Vietnam's energy problems.
Energy

Vietnam's power supply under strain from high coal prices

Country lacks plan for reducing dependence on its most important fuel

28 April 2022
Vitor Gaspar, the IMF's director of fiscal affairs, hammers the point that inflation-fighting budgets must be targeted and temporary.
Interview

Inflation policy should be 'targeted and temporary': IMF director

Vitor Gaspar warns policy tightening will add to emerging nations' debt woes

28 April 2022
Keppel and Sembcorp Marine are listed on the Singapore Exchange and are among the world's largest builders of offshore oil rigs.
27 April 2022
A Japanese-made liquefied natural gas carrier anchored near an LNG plant on the Russian island of Sakhalin.
Energy

Japan fears China-Russia LNG alliance after Shell exits Sakhalin-2

Tokyo could see its import quotas reduced under new ownership

23 April 2022
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates speaks at the Munich Security Conference in February. (Nikkei montage)
Climate Change

Mitsubishi to pour $100m into Bill Gates-backed clean tech push

Trading house to become first Asian partner in Catalyst investment program

22 April 2022
A worker handles palm oil fruits at a palm oil plantation. Palm oil prices skyrocketed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
Commodities

Indonesia slaps ban on palm oil exports

Jokowi announces restriction after recent arrests and amid continuing high prices

22 April 2022
Santos decided last year to build a $165 million carbon capture facility in central Australia. (Photo courtesy of Santos)
Climate Change

Australia's Santos aims for 'world's largest' carbon capture plant

Decarbonization tech gains traction in resource-rich country to offset emissions

22 April 2022
A Hualong nuclear reactor in Fujian Province, China. (Photo from Fuqing nuclear power plant operator)
Energy

China greenlights 6 new nuclear reactors in shift away from coal

$19bn buildup to help double nuclear power capacity by 2030

22 April 2022