25th World Gas Conference Held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia JGA Chairman Torihara presenting his keynote address JGA exhibit booth The 25th World Gas Conference took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre June 4 through 8, 2012. This year's theme was "Gas: Sustainable Future Global Growth." The event was attended by 5,300 participants from approximately 90 countries and regions worldwide, including over 200 from Japan. In his keynote address "Strategy for increasing advanced gas use in Japan," JGA Chairman Mitsunori Torihara spoke about changes in Japan's energy policy since the Great East Japan Earthquake, efforts by the natural gas industry to increase demand, and the importance of expanding and linking the natural gas value chain. The Japan Gas Association also had a booth at the exhibition that took place in parallel with the conference. The JGA booth introduced Japan's gas industry, and publicized efforts at advanced gas use including fuel cells and smart energy networks. A total of about 3,200 persons visited the booth during the exhibition. At the IGU Council Meeting which was held prior to the conference on June 4, Kunihiro Nishizaki, Deputy General Manager, PEFC Development, Department of Technology Solutions, Tokyo Gas and Kazuhiro Hirai, Manager, micro-CHP Development Department, Residential Energy Business Unit, Osaka Gas were given the IGU Gas Efficiency Award for the commercialization of the "Ene-Farm" residential fuel cell (Winners of the IGU Gas Awards 2009-2012). At the meeting also letters of appreciation were presented to Tatsuo Kume, Executive Engineer, Energy Engineering Dept., Osaka Gas and Ichiro Baba, General Manager, Research & Planning Team, Planning Dept., Energy Resources and International Business Unit, Osaka Gas for their three years of service as the chair and the secretary, respectively, of the IGU WOC5 (Utilisation). The next World Gas Conference will be held in Paris in June 2015. The following links connect to JGA Chairman Torihara's address and to the panels displayed at the JGA booth. >>> Keynote address "Strategy for increasing advanced gas use in Japan" >>> Panels at the JGA booth

JGA Announces New Board of Directors At the JGA General Meeting and the Council held on June 14, 2012, Kotaro Mizuno (Chairman∗1, Toho Gas Co., Ltd.) was retired as Vice Chairman and Haruki Takahashi was retired as Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director, while Takashi Saeki (President∗2, Toho Gas Co., Ltd.) was appointed as Vice Chairman and Toshiyuki Kanisawa was appointed as Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director. Also, at the Council held on May 17, Yoshihiro Tanabe and Hiroyuki Wada were appointed as Managing Directors to succeed retiring Managing Directors Norikazu Hoshino and Kenji Ikejima. The new Board of Directors is as follows. Chairman: Mitsunori Torihara (Chairman, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.) Vice Chairmen: Hiroshi Ozaki (President, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.) Takashi Saeki (Chairman, Toho Gas Co., Ltd.) Hiroki Ogawa (Chairman, Saibu Gas Co., Ltd.) Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director: Toshiyuki Kanisawa Managing Directors: Yoshihiro Tanabe Hiroyuki Wada ∗1 Executive Advisor, Toho Gas Co., Ltd., as of July 27, 2012. ∗2 Chairman, Toho Gas Co., Ltd., as of July 27, 2012. City Gas Symposium 2012 JGA hosted City Gas Symposium 2012 in Tokyo on June 15. This symposium is held each year for the exchange of information among city gas utilities and related businesses through presentations on the latest trends in the city gas industry and the most recent technology development findings. With the great change in the domestic energy environment following the March 2011 great earthquake, Japan's gas industry is expected to work toward the realization of a new best energy mix including promoting the shift to natural gas and the spread of distributed energy systems. Accordingly, this year's symposium was held with the main theme of "Direction of New Energy Systems and Research and Development." The program began with the keynote address followed by an invited lecture by a gas-related manufacturer and JGA's selection lectures: "Efforts toward Building New Energy Systems" and "Technology Development to Realize New Energy Systems." The former introduced such examples as the Smart Energy Network at the Tokyo Gas Senju Techno Station, and the wide-area demonstration project and smart energy house demonstration being conducted by Osaka Gas. The latter discussed smart meters, household solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), the Ene-Farm power failure response system, all steam recovery gas engine cogeneration systems using steam compressors, and improving industrial power source security as technology development themes toward realizing new energy systems. Overall the symposium had 29 oral presentations, one workshop ("Japanese Cuisine Science and Innovation") and 56 poster presentations. Three technology awards were presented (for "Development of the Ultra High Efficiency GHP 'GHP XAIR'," "Load Survey and Automated Meter Reading System for All IP Format Telecommunications Networks," and "Development of the New ECOWILL, gas engine cogeneration system for residential use"), and there were 14 displays of award-winning technologies and papers. The symposium drew 1,548 participants from city gas utilities and other organizations affiliated with JGA. The next City Gas Symposium will be held in Tokyo again in June of next year. City Gas Sales in FY2011 (April 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012) FY 2011 domestic gas sales (by 209 gas utilities nationwide) totaled 35,912 million m3 (41.8605 MJ/m3), up 1.8% from the previous fiscal year. The total sales rose for the second consecutive year to post a new record high. By sector: - Residential sector gas sales rose slightly, increasing by 2 million m3 to 9,791 million m3. The residential sector sales were nearly flat year-on-year as the average temperature remained near the prior year's level (down 0.2 ℃). - Commercial sector gas sales fell by 5.5% to 4,480 million m3 and miscellaneous sector gas sales (hospitals, public facilities, etc.) dropped by 5.0% to 2,970 million m3. The decreased sales reflected lower air-conditioning demand with low temperatures during the summer and the progress of energy-savings measures by customers. (Commercial sector sales declined for the first time in two years, and miscellaneous sector sales were down for the first time in three years.) - Industrial sector gas sales rose by 5.9% to 18,671 million m3. The sales increased from higher operating rates at customer facilities and from efforts to develop demand. (Industrial sector sales rose for the second consecutive year). By region: - The changes in annual gas sales from the previous fiscal year by region were as follows: +2.4% in Hokkaido, -10.2% in Tohoku, +2.7% in Kanto-Koshinetsu, +0.3% in Chubu-Hokuriku, +1.8% in Kinki, +2.8% in Chugoku, +4.3% in Shikoku, and -1.0% in Kyushu-Okinawa. Gas Facts in Japan 2011

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