(Trinidad Guardian) T&T’s exports of liquefied natural gas to Japan are on the increase with one analysis pointing out that Japan’s second-largest power utility, Kansai Electric, imported almost four times as much LNG from Trinidad and Tobago this year than last, as of August. Platts’ analysis of Japan’s customs cleared import data revealed that between January and August 2011, Kansai Electric imported 216,696 metric tonnes from the Atlantic facilities in Point Fortin, compared with 58,240 metric tonnes in the same period last year. Kansai Electric imported a total of 114,020 mt of LNG in 2010, which includes a cargo of 55,780 mt taken in September 2010, the customs data showed.
So far this year, Kansai Electric has been Japan’s sole buyer of Trinidad and Tobago LNG, according to the data, although Kansai Electric declined to comment. Japan’s LNG imports from Trinidad and Tobago are unusual because of its longer-than-usual voyage compared with other suppliers, according to the Platts’ article.
Sources told Platts’ that the LNG comes from a short-term contract with a supplier in Atlantic LNG. They said this contract was signed before the devastating March 11 earthquake as part of Kansai Electric’s strategy to fulfil its requirements from short-term and mid-term contracts.
