Japan's largest gas company Tokyo Gas Co. is negotiating a long-term contract for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with at least four American exporters, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.
Tokyo's possible partners include American gas market players Energy Transfer LP and Commonwealth. LNG supplies are being discussed until 2050 and beyond.
Japan expects an increase in electricity demand from data centers for artificial intelligence and semiconductor factories. In this regard, Tokyo considers LNG as an important element in the structure of energy supplies.
Japan is the second largest importer of LNG in the world. The country is actively concluding long-term contracts with key producers, including companies from the United States, Australia and Qatar. Earlier, Japan's largest electricity generation corporation - JERA, announced the conclusion of contracts for the annual purchase of 5.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas from the United States.