ISTANBUL
\nTo ensure a stable supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Japanese cabinet on Friday approved amendments to fuel law to avoid an energy crunch as the Russia-Ukraine war continues for more than seven months.
\nThe bill, which will be introduced in parliament during the current session, will enable the country\u2019s industry minister to \u201cask government-backed agency to procure LNG when the private sector faces difficulties doing so.\u201d
\nJapan is highly dependent on energy imports from Russia, which is currently the world\u2019s most sanctioned nation due to its war with Ukraine.
\n\u201cWe will work for the early enactment (of the bills),\u201d said Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.
\nIt first imported LNG over 50 years ago and is currently the world\u2019s largest buyer of the fuel, which it uses for electricity generation and supplies to cities. Its prices have been surging in view of the Russia-Ukraine war.
\nAlthough Tokyo has aligned with its western allies in imposing severe sanctions on Russia and its leadership, including President Vladimir Putin, it has not stopped importing energy products from Moscow.
\n\u201cThe minister will also be enabled to order large companies to restrict gas usage when the supply-demand balance becomes tight,\u201d Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.
\nWhen the bill is passed by parliament, it will go into effect in two months.
\nIn case of an energy emergency, essential facilities like hospitals and sewage systems are expected to be fully or partially exempted from restrictions on the use of gas in Japan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISTANBUL To ensure a stable supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Japanese cabinet on Friday approved amendments to fuel law to avoid an energy crunch as the Russia-Ukraine war continues for more than seven months. The bill, which will be introduced in parliament during the current session, will enable the country\u2019s industry minister to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-289568","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n