3rd CWC Japan LNG & Gas Summit

The 2nd CWC Japan LNG & Gas Summit took place in Tokyo on 19-20 February 2019 with the participation and support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), JERA Co. Inc., Tokyo Gas and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ). The Summit gathered some 250 senior executives from across the LNG & gas value chain in both Japan and globally.

We are delighted to announce the 3rd CWC Japan LNG & Gas Summit will take place on 19–20 February 2020. Get in touch with our team to get involved in the next edition.

Key Summit Takeaways:

…on LNG & Gas pricing in the global markets:
A poll conducted in the audience showed the sentiment on future oil price: $60-70/bbl would be the level by end-2019.

…on market creation and supply optimisation:
Japan is playing a key role in terms of demand stimulation in new and emerging LNG markets across Asia and investing across the full value chain
Discussion during the Summit looked at whether more could be done by Japanese E&P companies to collaborate further and combine balance sheets in the upstream sector.

…on Japan’s market reforms and regulations:
There was a lot of discussion about regulations and reforms of third party access, destination clauses and take or pay agreements. Generally the panel at the Summit discussing were advocating more of a market led approach rather than a heavy handed, mandatory regulatory approach.

…on tomorrow’s LNG supply models:
All LNG suppliers on the panel were willing to provide short term duration contracts than they previously would have considered. New projects in the US showed they could be as short as 10 years because costs have come down. More established sellers can provide any contracts’ duration to meet customer needs.

…on LNG bunkering:
The IMO regulation is really challenging and very costly for the industry but the sense of purpose is bigger and the environmental impact cannot be neglected. All panellists agreed on the importance of collaborating and sharing responsibilities in all aspects of the business.

…on the latest trends in LNG project financing:
The industry is taking the steps needed to ensure comfortable LNG supply but big questions remain about how new markets open to LNG, including in Southeast Asian countries that might need greater access to LNG but where policy and regulatory constraints are complicating efforts to increase the share of gas in power generation.

…on the transformation of the LNG industry through technology and digitalisation:
Technological innovation and digitalisation will play a critical role throughout the long LNG value chain to make LNG business more flexible, cost effective and to cultivate new demand.

…on the role of Japan in Asian LNG trading:
With less commitments to long term contracts and LNG supply ready to be unleashed on the market, the role of LNG trading is growing at fast pace.