JAPEX operates an LNG Satellite System to meet demand for natural gas in regions not served by its gas pipeline network. JAPEX has been supplying natural gas to LDCs in the Tohoku, Hokuriku and other northern regions since 1984 with LNG imported from overseas through an LNG receiving terminal in the port of Niigata using tanker trucks. JAPEX made a further improvement to this system by introducing railway tank containers in March 2000, thus substantially reducing logistics costs and reaching customers in more distant areas. Using this method, JAPEX has been able to expand the coverage of our LNG Satellite System from the existing range of 250km-300km. This now allows us to supply LDCs in Ishikawa and Toyama Prefecture, 280km-360km from the LNG receiving terminal in Niigata Prefecture.

LNG satellite receiving terminal

Transportation by railway LNG tank containers

JAPEX constructed a natural gas liquefaction plant at Yufutsu to supply gas to customers in Hokkaido in geographic areas outside the reach of its pipeline network. Since Hokkaido has no terminal for imported LNG, the Yufutsu plant created the first LNG supply system in this part of Japan. Shipments of LNG by road and rail began in October 2003 using a container system we call the LNG Satellite System. The first customer to use this service was Asahikawa Gas Co., Ltd.
JAPEX begun supplying LNG to Obihiro Gas Co., Ltd., Kushiro Gas Co., Ltd., Iwamizawa Gas Co., Ltd., Muroran Gas Co., Ltd. in stages from 2007. To meet increasing demand within Hokkaido, we also constructed the second train at the Yufutsu LNG plant in November 2007.

Yufutsu LNG plant

LNG storage tank, Yufutsu LNG plant