Japanese energy policy

The article reports on Japanese energy policy over the past ten years and discusses the requirements for the future. The issues for the future that call for special consideration are (i) to design a system that would allow private-sector companies, including foreign capital countries, to invest in building LNG terminals and transport pipelines; (ii) to revise the over-stringent safety regulations applied to pipeline construction and (iii) introduce a system which allows LNG producers and Japanese importers to do business fairly. It is expected that the Japanese government will promote deregulatory policies in the power and gas industry