author

 
 

Meta

Stephen Stapczynski
Bulk carriers float offshore from Singapore, on Feb. 19.
WORLD
Sep 19, 2024
The shadow fleet transporting sanctioned gas for Russia
In the short term it could provide some wartime profit, but Moscow's ultimate goal is to triple LNG exports by 2030.
The No. 1 reactor building stands at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.'s Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulsan, South Korea.
BUSINESS
Jul 21, 2024
South Korea edges ahead of rivals to build Europe’s nuclear reactors
A pair of projects in the Czech Republic could set up South Korea to build reactors for Western countries that are reconsidering nuclear energy.
Data has shown that Western pension funds may inadvertently be helping Russian President Vladimir Putin as Moscow looks to ramp up liquefied natural gas exports to replenish Kremlin coffers and fund its war in Ukraine.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 21, 2024
How U.S. pension funds help Putin’s gas gambit
The case spotlights the opacity of the global finance and how hard it remains to sever Moscow from a key revenue source even two years after the Ukraine invasion.
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks through a helicopter window during his flight to the Novatek-Murmansk's Offshore Superfacility Construction Center in the village of Belokamenka, in Russia's Murmansk region, last July.
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
May 5, 2024
How Western sanctions are strangling Putin’s Arctic gas ambitions
The Novatek PJSC-led Arctic LNG 2 facility is a key part of Moscow’s plans to boost exports and replenish coffers. But it has remained virtually idled.
The Malaysian state of Sarawak is blessed with the rivers and heavy rainfall needed to create hydropower that can generate clean electricity needed for emissions-free hydrogen.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
Apr 20, 2024
Clean hydrogen’s best bet may be a rainforest state in Borneo
The state is hoping an abundance of hydropower can help it defy challenges that are clouding the fuel’s prospects elsewhere.
A Tokyo Gas Co. storage tank at the company's Setagaya facility in Tokyo
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jan 12, 2024
World trying to quit fossil fuels gets flood of gas instead
Formerly a sluggish sector, global events spurred LNG's expansion
A hydrogen storage tank and loading system at a liquefied hydrogen receiving terminal in Kobe
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 27, 2023
U.K. concerned about Japan’s co-firing plans to curb emissions
The move 'prolongs the life of coal plants and leads to emissions,' said the head of climate change and energy at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has been meeting with Japanese buyers, as well as overseas suppliers, to urge the signing of more long-term LNG contracts.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 21, 2023
Japan urges LNG buyers to sign long-term deals for fuel security
The push is meant to insulate Japan from future supply shocks, as well as potentially harsher sanctions against Russian fuel exports.
A liquefied natural gas tanker is tugged toward a thermal power station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, in November 2017
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2023
Japan’s dwindling LNG inventories could prompt new purchases
Storage held by Japan’s power suppliers fell to 1.62 million tons as of Sept. 17, according to data compiled by the trade ministry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 6, 2023
Japan in talks to buy gas from Qatar amid diversification shift
Qatar is currently offering prices that Japanese firms deem as too high, a key issue that may ultimately scuttle discussions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2023
Gas is here to stay for decades, say fossil fuel heavyweights
Seen as a short-term bridge to greener energy sources, environmentalists have sought to phase out LNG amid worries that it's far dirtier than advertised.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 2, 2023
The inside story of Buffett’s big Japan bet, over glasses of Coke at Four Seasons
The billionaire investor's visit is seen as an important vote of confidence in Japan’s big five traders as they pivot away from fossil fuels.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2023
Enough wind power for a major city snarled in Vietnam’s red tape
Across the country, there is 3.5 gigawatts of potential energy in turbines that have either been built but are sitting idle, or are still under construction.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 6, 2023
Adani’s crisis points to big risk in India's net-zero plan
Adani’s rapid downfall may undermine investor confidence in India more broadly, threatening to curb capital flows into the nation for green financing.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 27, 2022
Japan firms agree on long-term LNG deals with U.S. and Oman in fossil fuel reversal
The agreements, driven by high prices, mark a shift for importers that had been moving away from such deals, expecting a transition to cleaner energy sources to reduce gas demand.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 19, 2022
Cost of green hydrogen to match LNG within a decade, French utility says
Interest in hydrogen is rapidly growing amid a global effort to cut dependence on coal and natural gas.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 15, 2022
Weak yen threatens runaway power bills for Japanese households
Several Japanese utilities — which buy overseas fuel in dollars to produce electricity — are considering asking the government to allow them to raise prices further and remove curbs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Aug 27, 2022
Global energy crisis spurs a revival of nuclear power in Asia
Governments in Japan and South Korea are removing anti-nuclear policies, while China and India are looking to build more reactors to avoid future supply shortages and curb emissions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 19, 2022
Poorer nations face unrest as wealthy countries snap up fuel
Already, gas deliveries that were scheduled for Pakistan or India are being redirected to Europe, where buyers are able to afford higher prices.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 1, 2022
Singapore signals male-sex ban review won’t allow gay marriage
The country has grappled with how to make its society more inclusive of the LGBT community even as some countries around the world move toward recognizing same-sex marriages.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?