Tokyo Gas sees imports rise to 18Mt by 2020

Tokyo Gas Co expects its annual LNG imports to rise from last year’s 10Mt to 18Mt by 2020 as users shift to the clean fuel following Japan’s reduction in nuclear power.

“We understand users have dramatically increased their expectations on natural gas as an energy source since the March 11 disaster,” Tokyo Gas president, Tsuyoshi Okamoto, said at a news conference.

Tokyo Gas, the country’s biggest city gas supplier, also plans to boost capacity at its gas-fired power plants by at least 50% to 5000MW by 2020. This could increase domestic gas-fired power capacity to 5000MW.

The company has increased its annual capital spending to JPY230bn (US$3bn) for the next nine years from JPY180bn outlined in its 2009-13 mid-term business plan. Around 84% will be spent on domestic capex issues.

Last year, the country bought a record 70Mt of LNG, making it the world’s largest LNG buyer.