TOKYO, Feb 04 (AFP): Japanese energy firm JERA said Tuesday it had agreed a 27-year deal to buy gas from Qatar, as Tokyo comes under pressure to reduce Russian imports while ensuring enough supplies for power-hungry data centres and AI.
JERA said it signed a long-term agreement with QatarEnergy to purchase 3.0 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually for 27 years from 2028.
The Japanese company did not disclose financial details, but the Nikkei business daily said it could be worth as much as 250 billion yen ($1.6 billion) a year.
Resource-poor Japan relies heavily on imported energy, much of it from the Middle East, to generate electricity.
At the same time it is moving to increase the share of nuclear power in its energy generation, 15 years after the Fukushima catastrophe. Japan is also facing a predicted rise in electricity demand from power-hungry data centres for use in artificial intelligence technologies.
JERA signs major 27-year gas deal with Qatar
FE Team | Published: February 04, 2026 22:54:02
JERA signs major 27-year gas deal with Qatar
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