(EnergyAsia, January 9 2012, Monday) — Compensating for the loss of the bulk of its nuclear power capacity, Japan’s import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) surged more than 12% to over 45.6 million tons in the first six months of the current financial year to September 2011.

According to Japanese official data compiled by consultant GlobalData, the country imported 45.606 million tons of LNG for the March-September 2011 period compared with 40.686 million tons for the same period the previous year.

Japan has shut down around 80% of its nuclear power capacity since a 9-richter scale earthquake struck off the northeastern part of the country last March 11, triggering a tsunami that effectively destroyed the giant Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. More than 25,000 people have died, and the plant continues to leak radiation.

Disillusioned and distrustful of the government and the nuclear industry for its mishandling of the crisis, the public has demanded the complete closure of the industry by this year.

Pre-quake Japan derived 29% of its electricity from nuclear power, and there were plans to raise that proportion to 40% by 2010.

With nuclear now out of favour, the power companies are under pressure to increase its import and use of oil, gas and coal as alternative feedstocks. LNG is the most favoured fuel as it is clean burning and in abundant supply from various sources around the world.

According to GlobaData, Japan has an installed annual regasification capacity of around 175 million tons with plans to add another three plants with a total of 6.4 million tons by 2014.

Qatar and Australia are slated to become future major suppliers with traditional suppliers Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei playing support roles.

Source: GlobalData, Japan Ministry of Finance