Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) has suspended operations at its Soma LNG facility following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake, it said on February 14. 

“After the earthquake, the terminal operation has been suspended for safety confirmation, and the supply of LNG managed at the terminal has been also suspended,” Japex said. “We are currently assessing the facilities' damage, and timing to resume operations is not yet determined.” 

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According to the company, there has been no damage to the surrounding area, such as gas leakage from the terminal. Due to the suspension of supply operations immediately after the earthquake, boil-off gas is being burned as a measure to release the gas safely.  

Because of the suspension of operations at the Soma terminal, the supply of regasified LNG used as fuel for power generation at Fukushima power plant has also been suspended. The resumption of the power plant operation has not been determined at this time, Japex said. 

Japex added that its ten domestic oil and gas fields are continuing normal production operations, and the gas produced is supplied to the gas pipeline network as usual.