Japan: Nuclear Shutdown Drives LNG Demand

According to a report issued by Platts, LNG consumption in Japan could increase by 800,000 mt/month in a worst-case scenario in which none of the nuclear reactors due to go offline for planned maintenance over August 2011-April 2012 were allowed to resume operations, Platts reported, citing a Deutsche Bank report.
In addition, coal consumption could also rise by 1.6 million mt/month.
To put the increased LNG demand in perspective, aa 800,000 mt/month rise in LNG consumption would equate to an 18% increase from consumption in July 2011 and raise the utilization rate of gas-fired generation capacity in the country from 72% to 85%, the bank said.  (Source: Platts)