Japan gas utility lobby says U.S. remains key LNG supplier
TOKYO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The head of Japan's gas utilities group said on Thursday the United States, the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), remains an important supply source for Japan despite the recent pause in U.S. LNG export permits.
U.S. President Joe Biden last month paused approvals for applications to export from new LNG projects to review the climate change and economic impact of such projects.
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"We don't know how much the pause will affect new projects, but the U.S. is the world's top exporter of LNG and its political situation is stable, so its importance has not changed in the slightest," Takahiro Honjo, the chairman of the Japan Gas Association (JGA), said when asked if the U.S. remains a stable source of LNG for Japan.
There will be little or limited direct impact on Japan by the U.S. action as existing LNG projects will not be affected, he said.
"But we need to keep a close eye on the impact of new LNG projects and the global LNG market," Honjo, also the chairman of Osaka Gas Co Ltd 9532.T, told a news conference.
Japan is the world's second-biggest LNG importer after China.
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)