Osaka Gas, a world-leading utility giant headquartered in Japan, has officially joined the SEA-LNG coalition, significantly enhancing the coalition’s global reach and expertise across the LNG value chain. This strategic move underscores Osaka Gas’s commitment to contributing to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry, particularly through the advancement of LNG as a cleaner marine fuel.
Strengthening SEA-LNG’s Global Presence
SEA-LNG, a prominent industry foundation dedicated to promoting LNG as a marine fuel, has gained a formidable ally in Osaka Gas. The utility company’s vast experience and extensive resources will bolster SEA-LNG’s efforts to expand the adoption of LNG in the maritime sector. Osaka Gas, which has been a cornerstone of Japan’s energy industry for over a century, brings decades of LNG operational expertise to the table, further enhancing SEA-LNG’s ability to support the global transition to cleaner marine fuels.
Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, expressed his enthusiasm for Osaka Gas’s membership, stating “LNG’s global bunkering infrastructure continues to expand with Osaka Gas playing a critical role. Osaka Gas brings over a century of corporate expertise and decades of experience in LNG operations in Japan. With its plan to support the adoption of liquified e-methane, it is emphasising how energy majors, shipowners, and other LNG value chain stakeholders can work collaboratively to transition from LNG’s immediate emissions reductions to net-zero e-methane. Our work together highlights how the LNG pathway represents a safe, realistic, and practical solution utilising existing and proven infrastructure.”
Osaka Gas’s Commitment to Renewable Energy and LNG Bunkering
Osaka Gas is not only focused on expanding LNG’s role in the maritime sector but is also actively working to increase the share of renewables in its power generation portfolio. The company is collaborating with other large international firms to sponsor the creation of a global coalition dedicated to electric natural gas (e-NG), also known as e-methane. This synthetic gas is seen as a critical component in the transition from fossil-based fuels to carbon-neutral alternatives, and Osaka Gas aims to lead this shift by integrating e-methane into its LNG operations.
Mr. Takenori Fujita, Executive Officer and Senior General Manager of LNG Trading Department, Energy Resources and International Business Unit at Osaka Gas, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating “We are delighted to join SEA-LNG and are committed to making substantial contributions to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry. As a responsible energy company dedicated to reducing emissions, we promote the conversion of fuels from coal and oil to natural gas through our gas supply business, which primarily operates in Japan.”
Fujita further emphasized Osaka Gas’s plans to launch an LNG bunkering business in 2026. This initiative will provide a crucial service to the maritime industry, enabling ships to refuel with LNG, thereby reducing their carbon emissions. In addition, Osaka Gas is working on the development of methanation technologies to produce e-methane from recycled CO2 and hydrogen, allowing for a seamless transition from traditional LNG to a carbon-neutral fuel.
The Future of E-Methane in Shipping
Osaka Gas’s entry into the SEA-LNG coalition comes at a pivotal time for the maritime industry as it seeks viable solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. SEA-LNG recently published a fact sheet to dispel myths about liquefied e-methane and provide up-to-date information on the fuel’s development. The fact sheet serves as a valuable resource for the shipping industry, outlining how e-methane can play a vital role in achieving net-zero emissions.
As the global shipping industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, the collaboration between Osaka Gas and SEA-LNG highlights the importance of collective action in developing and adopting new technologies. The partnership aims to accelerate the transition to cleaner fuels, leveraging existing infrastructure and innovations like e-methane to pave the way for a sustainable maritime future.
About Osaka Gas
Established in 1897, Osaka Gas has grown into a diversified energy company, well-positioned across the entire natural gas value chain. Serving 5.0 million gas delivery points in the Kansai Region, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area, Osaka Gas operates a 63,000 km pipeline network and is a major provider of natural gas and energy services. The company is committed to promoting the use of natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil and is actively involved in the development of new technologies to support the global energy transition.
About SEA-LNG
SEA-LNG is a collaborative industry foundation established to demonstrate the commercial and environmental benefits of LNG as a marine fuel. The coalition’s members span the entire LNG value chain, including shipowners, port authorities, energy companies, and technology providers, working together to promote LNG as a safe, environmentally, and economically sustainable maritime fuel. SEA-LNG is dedicated to supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources within the maritime industry, with a focus on leveraging proven technologies and infrastructure.
Source SEA-LNG