JAPEX to Build LNG Terminal in Fukushima

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) said on Wednesday that it has taken a final decision to construct an LNG receiving terminal in Shinchi Town, Fukushima Prefecture (Soma Port) as well as a connecting pipeline to transfer the vapourized fuel to JAPEX’s main pipeline.

The company has carried out a front-end engineering design including demand survey for the construction of a new LNG receiving terminal at Soma Port in Fukushima Prefecture, with a connecting pipeline, since November last year.

JAPEX will bring the fuel from North America which will be stored in the new facility.

In April this year, JAPEX acquired a 10% interest in a natural gas development and production project in British Columbia, Canada, and a 10% interest in the Canada Pacific NorthWest LNG Project, which is operated by Petronas.

The project partners are working toward beginning operation at the liquefaction plant by the end of 2018. Under this project, JAPEX will offtake 10% (1.2 million tons) of LNG at the plant (about 12 million tons per annum) and use it as one of the LNG sources to be received at Soma LNG receiving terminal, which will be put into operation in March 2018, JAPEX announced.

"In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, JAPEX temporarily suspended but soon resumed the delivery of natural gas to local gas distribution companies in the affected areas via its Niigata-Sendai Pipeline. By connecting the new natural gas infrastructure to be constructed along the Pacific Ocean to the Niigata-Sendai pipeline, JAPEX will be able to supply natural gas both from the Sea of Japan side and the Pacific Ocean side, which will dramatically improve supply security in the event of a large-scale disaster," the company said. 

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