By Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo
 
TOKYO, June 3, 2024 (BSS) – Experts at Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition today focused on driving energy transition and decarbonisation  in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
 
With inspiring remarks from Nobuo Tanaka, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who laid emphasis on the urgent need for international collaboration to achieve sustainable energy goals. The energy summit  was inaugurated today at Tokyo Big Sight, marking the beginning of a pivotal three-day event from (June 3 to 5, 2024), hosted by Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
 
The summit gathered global energy leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, to delve into innovative solutions shaping the future of energy and seeks to foster international collaboration pivotal to accelerating energy transformation and advancing climate action.
 
It was followed by a compelling keynote address from Shinichi Kihara, Director General for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality at METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), who highlighted the critical role of the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), a platform launched by 11 partner countries in 2023 to advance decarbonisation in Asia, and Japan’s dedication to achieving industry reduction, economic growth and energy security. 

He added: “Japan aims to simultaneously achieve industry reduction, economic growth and energy security. We do not sacrifice one for the others."
 
Yuya Hasegawa, Director of Energy Resource Development Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan said: “There is no perfect energy source. We need to have as many sources as possible and diversify to ensure a stable supply of energy, even during disasters.”
 
Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy at the European Commission, delivered a visionary keynote, highlighting Japan's crucial role as a key partner in shaping the global energy security framework, especially in relation to LNG, emphasising the importance of collaborative efforts, most notably between Europe and Japan, in enhancing energy security and promoting sustainability worldwide. She added: “Japan and Europe may be on opposite sides of the earth, but we have a lot in common: we are both democracies, and we are both carbon tech pioneers. Japan is one of our key partners in designing the global energy security architecture, especially in relation to LNG."
 
The Energy Summit and Exhibition featured a strategic conference, which brought together global energy leaders and senior regional policymakers to advance the momentum needed for Japan and the Asia-Pacific region to achieve decarbonisation goals while maintaining economic growth and energy security.
 
Junya Tawa, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of the Planning Division, JERA Co., Inc. said: “To address these global energy challenges, we must tackle the energy trilemma of sustainability, affordability, and stability. Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art solutions by combining linear energy with low-emission formula."
 
Takayuki Ueda, President & CEO, INPEX CORPORATION said that market's vulnerability persists, and one of the key challenges facing the energy market is the staggering 30% to 40% surge in demand for electricity, even in Japan.
 
Shinichi Sasayama, CEO, President, Representative Executive Officer, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd said supply and demand structure for energy is anticipated to experience significant transformations, encompassing heightened volatility, geopolitical risks, the integration of renewable energies, and a mid to long-term surge in energy demand.