Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe
Japan wastes chance for energy rethink
The end of the Abe era is unlikely to lead the country to increase its unambitious target for renewables
Moves by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elite—in choosing a replacement for outgoing prime minister Shinzo Abe—to favour the voices of party lawmakers over rank and file members mean that a rare chance for a radical energy policy rethink is being lost. Abe’s chosen successor will complete the country’s longest serving prime minister’s curtailed term of office, which runs until September 2021. In normal circumstances, party lawmakers and rank and file members would have equal numbers of votes to make that choice. But Abe’s decision to resign due to ill health is being used to justify a reweighting of influence. The election process that starts on 8 September gives 394 votes to
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
