Japanese Jera Buys First LNG from US Mainland

Japanese Jera December 8 said it has made its first spot LNG purchase from the US.

The LNG cargo was bought from Cheniere Marketing International and was produced at Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, which is operated by Cheniere Energy Partners. The cargo was loaded onto the LNG vessel Oak Spirit December 7, Jera said. The vessel is expected to arrive at an LNG terminal used by Chubu Electric Power Company early next month.

Loading of LNG at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal (Credit: Jera)

“Jera believes the purchase of US LNG will contribute to a stable energy supply in Japan through the diversification of procurement regions and LNG price indices,” Jera, a joint venture between Tokyo Gas and Chubu and world’s biggest LNG buyer, said. “Going forward, Jera will establish an LNG procurement portfolio that can flexibly respond to changes in the business environment by increasing its procurement ratio of LNG which is free from destination restrictions, through projects such as the Freeport LNG Project in US,” Jera said.

Shardul Sharma