Japan And Australia Agree To Ensure Stable LNG, Coal Supply

Japan and Australia have reached an agreement to secure a stable supply of energy resources, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal, from Australia to Japan.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister, and Australian counterpart, Don Farrell, participated in the meeting. I Photo: Don Farrell Facebook

This agreement comes amid Tokyo's concerns over changes in Canberra's energy policies. The discussion took place during the fifth Japan-Australia Ministerial Economic Dialogue in Melbourne, Mainichi Japan reported.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan's Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister, and his Australian counterpart, Don Farrell, along with Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King, participated in the meeting.

Nishimura stated after the meeting that they "agreed to ensure a stable supply of resources such as LNG and a reliable investment environment" in Australia's resources and energy sector.

They also discussed expanding cooperation in areas such as hydrogen and ammonia.

The two nations, with Australia being the largest supplier of LNG, coal, and iron ore to Japan, intend to collaborate on establishing supply chains for critical minerals like nickel and rare earths.

However, Japan expressed ongoing concerns about potential supply impacts following Australia's tightening of greenhouse emissions controls.

In July, a new Australian law came into effect, requiring new LNG facilities to achieve carbon neutrality, and existing facilities must reduce their carbon emissions by 4.9 percent annually until 2030 and further thereafter.

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