OREANDA-NEWS. Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. has decided to promote installation and expansion of the natural gas infrastructure in Ibaraki Prefecture in an accelerated manner, with a view to dealing with the growing demand for natural gas and to enhancing the overall security for energy supply infrastructure in Ibaraki Prefecture, where higher expectation is placed toward an industry and energy concentrated prefecture in the metropolitan area.

Ibaraki Prefecture and Tokyo gas reached a basic agreement in December 2009 that both parties would work in a cooperative fashion to install and utilize the natural gas infrastructure in Ibaraki Prefecture, in order to make a contribution on the environment and energy initiatives toward the realization of a low-carbon society and to revitalize the regional economy through industrial development and expansion of employment opportunities.

Based on this basic agreement, Tokyo Gas has already started construction work respectively for “Hitachi LNG Terminal” (Port of Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture) in July 2012, and for “Ibaraki - Tochigi Line” (Section: Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture ? Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, Length: Approx. 81 km) in January 2012 to connect the Terminal with the existing pipeline in Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, with the overall commencement target of FY2015. Thanks to the understanding and cooperation of people in local communities and such concerned organizations as Ibaraki Prefecture and Hitachi City, the construction work is going underway on schedule.

In addition to the initiatives stated above, Tokyo Gas has decided to promote installation and expansion of the natural gas infrastructure in Ibaraki Prefecture in an accelerated manner specified below.