<article><p class="lead">Japan's city-gas supplier Tokyo Gas and 14 firms across different industries established the Carbon-neutral LNG Buyers Alliance today to promote the use of the sustainable LNG.</p><p>The 14 companies are those that signed an agreement to purchase carbon-neutral city-gas from Tokyo Gas. They are carmaker Isuzu, chemical company Sakai Chemical Industry, engineering firms Toshiba and Olympus, non-ferrous metal supplier Toho Titanium, beverage provider Asahi, healthcare firm Yakult, food and services provider Duskin, financial company Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, infrastructure firm Marunouchi Heat Supply, property developer and manager Mitsubishi Estate and Lumine, hotel manager New Otani, and educational organisation Tamagawa Academy. Tokyo Gas will be the secretariat of the alliance.</p><p>The alliance aims to expand carbon-neutral LNG market by raising awareness and incorporating it into ESG investment standards and environmental regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emission. The alliance plans to hold online seminars and to communicate with investors during the April 2021-March 2022 fiscal year, but a detailed timeline is currently unavailable.</p><p>Tokyo Gas purchased carbon-neutral LNG from Shell <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1923372">in 2019</a>. Fellow gas utility <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2191384">Hokkaido Gas</a> also expects to receive a 64,000t cargo of carbon-neutral LNG on 18 March.</p><p>Japan has ramped up its efforts to curb carbon dioxide emission as <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2153478">a 2050 carbon neutrality goal</a> set by the prime minister Yoshihide Suga in October. </p><p class="bylines">By Nanami Oki</p></article>
