Japan is scouting shipments of natural gas from Eagle Ford Shale
Japan needs to diversify how it produces electricity and is looking at the Eagle Ford Shale as a potential source of natural gas to run its new power plants.
A delegation from the Consulate General of Japan in Houston toured the Freeport LNG construction site south of Houston as well as Tidal Petroleum's oil nd natural gas drilling site near Moulton in Lavaca County on Thursday.
The two tours came just one day before their visit to San Antonio. Former Japanese Ambassador Yasuo Saito told the San Antonio Business Journal that all of Japan's nuclear reactors remain shut down years after the 2011 Fukushima earthquake.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that nuclear power once generated nearly one-third of Japan's electricity but Saito told the San Antonio Business Journal that Japan is diversifying its energy portfolio.
In order to replace nuclear power, Japan has been increasing the amount of electricity it generates using natural gas power plants. (Sergio Chapa, San Antonio Business Journal)
In order to replace nuclear power, Japan has been increasing the amount of electricity it generates using natural gas power plants. (Sergio Chapa, San Antonio Business Journal)
Read our look at the EPA's ruling on Fracking.