LNG

July 10 (LNGJ) - The Japanese government is considering plans to liberalize the liquefied natural gas domestic trading market by requiring natural gas and utility companies to offer short-term leases on any empty LNG storage tanks. Japan imports almost 90 million tonnes per annum of LNG, though it is often quickly used for power generation and there is often spare storage in the country's coastal network of more than 30 regasification and import terminals. The reform would allow Tokyo-based energy traders who do not have their own storage to own LNG.