Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Japan’s Kyushu Electric forms LNG trading unit

Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power said it has formed a trading unit as it looks to meet the growing demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

“Toward realization of carbon-neutral society, the demand for LNG as a transition energy is
expected to increase globally in various industrial areas including bunkering and fuel conversion,” Kyushu Electric said in a statement on Wednesday.

In response to such demand growth, the utility said it has launched the new subsidiary named Q United Energy Supply & Trading (Quest). The firm was incorporated on April 26.

Also, Kyushu Electric appointed Takashi Mitsuyoshi as managing director and CEO of the new unit located in Fukuoka, Japan.

According to Kyushu Electric, Quest would supply LNG utilizing the company’s assets including LNG vessels and storage terminals, as well as its trading capabilities cumulated in the past, to meet various requirement from LNG customers.

In parallel, Kyushu Electric said it has transferred the function of balancing and optimization to the new subsidiary to integrate delivery scheduling and balancing in incremental demand and existing demand.

LNG-to-power and bunkering plans

Kyushu Electric and Japan’s city gas supplier Saibu Gas are partners in the 2.4 mtpa Hibiki LNG terminal located on the northernmost city on Japan’s Kyushu Island in Fukuoka prefecture.

Saibu Gas has a 90 percent stake while the utility holds the rest.

In December last year, the two firms have agreed to build a 620 MW LNG-fueled power plant at the Hibiki regasification terminal in Kitakyushu.

Kyushu Electric receives LNG supplies from projects in Australia, Indonesia, and Russia.

In addition, Kyushu Electric recently joined forces with compatriot shipping giant NYK to order one 3,500-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

The goal is to launch LNG fuel supply business for ships in Japan’s Kyushu and Setouchi regions in the spring of 2024.

This move followed an announcement in September last year. NYK said then it had signed a memorandum of understanding with fuel distributor Itochu Enex, Saibu Gas, and Kyushu Electric to form an LNG bunkering business.

Most Popular

First Plaquemines LNG cargo arrives in Germany

Venture Bayou was sailing on Thursday morning in the North Sea, Germany, and was located not far from Wilhelmshaven,...

MOL, TotalEnergies name newbuild LNG carrier in South Korea

South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean held on Friday a naming ceremony for one 174,000-cbm LNG carrier it built for Japan's...

Crown LNG expects FID on Scottish FSRU terminal in Q2 2025

Crown LNG revealed this in a corporate update released on Wednesday. The company delayed the decision on the Grangemouth FSRU...

More News Like This

Japan’s NYK adds newbuild LNG carrier to its fleet

South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries delivered the 174,000-cbm Quest Kirishima on Monday. NYK said the vessel will be deployed under...

Japan’s Saibu Gas decides to build third Hibiki LNG tank

The firm said in a statement on Thursday that the total construction costs will reach about 50 billion yen...

Japan’s Jera launches second LNG unit at Goi power plant

The power firm and LNG trader said on Thursday that the power station’s unit 2 had begun commercial operation. Jera...

Japan’s NYK, Kyushu Electric complete first operation with LNG bunkering newbuild

Japan’s NYK, Kyushu Electric Power, and two other partners have completed the first ship-to-ship operation with the 3,500-cbm LNG...