The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
The LNG Value Chain and the Carbon-Neutral Society(On-site and online streaming)
OSAKA GAS CO.,LTD.
Discussion
- Climate change
- Decarbonisation
- Renewable energy
- hydrogen society, circular economy
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Theme Weeks CONNECT
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Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.09.24[Wed]
14:00 ~ 17:00
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Connect (Outside Venue)
- Hotel Okura Kyoto (537-4, Ichinofunairicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 604-0924 Japan)
© 2025 by Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd.
Programme details
Focusing on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an energy source with low environmental impact, this seminar will introduce and discuss in an easy-to-understand manner the technologies, systems, and global trends related to e-methane, as a renewable energy source, and the gas industry's efforts towards the realization of a carbon neutral society. Presented by: Chair of IGU LNG Committee: Atsuo Kanno (Osaka Gas)
Reports
【Reflection】
This seminar was held at Hotel Okura Kyoto as part of the
International Gas Union (IGU) LNG Committee meeting on
September 24th,2025. The event was attended by approximately
140 stakeholders in total, including around 60 participants
who joined online.
The seminar began with a guest address by Mr. Sakota, Director
of Gas Market Office, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. He emphasized
the importance of LNG procurement and the need for
international collaboration to promote the introduction of
e-methane. He also expressed expectations that collaboration
between policy and industry would advance the dissemination of
LNG and renewable gases, underscoring the significance of the
seminar.
The seminar was conducted in two sessions.
The first session, themed "The LNG Market and Carbon
Neutrality," focused on strategies by various players to
ensure a stable energy supply while promoting decarbonization.
Moderated by Mr. Hashimoto of the IEEJ, the session featured
speakers from Tokyo Gas, Cheniere Marketing, NYK Line, and the
IGU. They engaged in active discussions on the current trends
in the LNG market, the future potential of e-methane, and the
challenges of decarbonizing energy supply.
The second session, titled "Gas Industry Initiatives
Toward a Carbon-Neutral Society," was moderated by IGU
Honorary Member Mr. Yoshida and featured four speakers from
Osaka Gas, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company, and ZeroBoard.
The session introduced each company's technological
developments and business strategies toward achieving carbon
neutrality (CN), while also exchanging views on the need to
establish international CO₂ accounting rules for
carbon-recycled fuels. In particular, it was pointed out that
the current GHG Protocol does not yet address e-methane and
similar fuels, raising concerns about the risk of double
counting emissions.
Throughout the seminar, participants shared various
decarbonization efforts by diverse players centered around
LNG. A strong consensus emerged on the urgent need to
establish international accounting rules for carbon-recycled
fuels, as well as the recognition that cooperation across
different sectors of the value chain is essential for
realizing a carbon-neutral society.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
At this seminar, we were able to engage in dialogue and
disseminate information with a wide range of stakeholders
toward the realization of a carbon-neutral society and LNG
utilization, taking the opportunity of Expo 2025 Osaka,
Kansai, Japan as a catalyst.
The content of the seminar was featured in the Gas Energy News
and in a press release by the International Gas Union (IGU),
and also drew attention from various media outlets. This
provided an excellent opportunity to raise awareness among a
broader audience about efforts toward achieving a
carbon-neutral society.
Going forward, as part of IGU’s ongoing activities, we will
continue discussions and dialogue with domestic and
international stakeholders on energy decarbonization and the
future of the gas value chain, contributing to the realization
of a sustainable society.
The IGU and its LNG Committee hold in-person meetings
approximately twice a year. The LNG Committee, which comprises
around 60 members, also organizes both in-person and online
meetings, along with open seminars for the general public. In
addition, the committee regularly publishes external reports
to share the latest trends related to decarbonization and the
gas sector.
Cast
Moderator
© 2025 by Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd.
Hiroshi Hashimoto
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
Senior Fellow at IEEJ, Energy Security Unit. Formerly with Tokyo Gas and IEA. IGU Strategy Committee member. Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo.
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Satoshi Yoshida
Japan Gas Association
Honorary Member of the International Gas Union. Former Chair of its Sustainability Committee and Regional Coordinator. Led key roles at Tokyo Gas and Japan Gas Association. Now Senior Adviser.
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Speakers
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Hideharu Sakota
Director of Gas Market Office Agency for Natural Resources and Energy
Joined the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2004. Since then, he has primarily been engaged in policy planning in the energy sector. Most recently, he served as Director of the Market Policy Planning Office at the Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission Executive Bureau, Director of the Electricity Infrastructure Division at the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, and as Director at Council of New Form of Capitalism Realization Executive Bureau. He assumed his current position in July 2025. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Economics.
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Katsumi (Ken) Kuroda
Cheniere Marketing Ltd
Engaged in energy business for more than 30 years at
Mitsubishi Corporation. Joined BG Group to assume the
position of the first General Manager of its Tokyo
Office in 2013.
Joined Cheniere Marketing Ltd. as Senior Advisor in
December 2016.
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Mark McCrory
International Gas Union
Before joining the IGU, Mark led Neptune Energy’s
engagement with Governments, trade associations and
policy stakeholders, and previously had worked for
Shell for ten years in various senior regulatory,
advocacy and business development roles.
Early in his career, Mark worked within the UK’s
Foreign, Trade and Finance Ministries before joining
Shell to work on the Russia/CIS region and was
appointed in 2015 as regional General Manager in the
Southern Caspian. Following successive senior
government relations roles in the UK and Denmark, Mark
joined Shell Energy’s market advocacy team to lead on
the key policy and regulatory opportunities and
challenges for Shell’s gas strategy execution. In this
role, he also chaired the IGU’s Strategic
Communications & Outreach Taskforce.
Mark has a degree in Economics from the London School
of Economics and started his career with roles in the
finance, corporate planning and trading functions of
Enterprise Oil.
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Seiki Takatoshi
Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. Energy Trading Company LNG Business Dept. Research & Business Planning Sect.
Specializing in finance and accounting, with experience in pipeline business, finance and accounting departments, power business, overseas business development, and LNG business divisions. Has engaged in LNG business for approximately eight years, currently responsible for making LNG strategy, research, international conference support, and digital implementation aimed at improving operational efficiency across multiple areas.
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Ryutaro Okuzawa
Executive Officer
In charge of Energy Co-ordination Group, Tanker Group
and Fuel Group
Assists the Officer who is in charge of LNG Group
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Ir Don H.K. Cheng
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Founded in 1862 and the first public utility company in Hong Kong.)
Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Utility of
Towngas, managing all Hong Kong operations and green
energy development. Over 30 years’ experience in gas
engineering, customer service, product development,
marketing, sales, and hydrogen & green methanol
projects. Chartered Engineer with the Hong Kong
Institution of Engineers and Fellow of the UK Energy
Institute. Holds B.A.Sc. in Engineering Chemistry,
B.Sc., and M.Sc. in Mathematical Statistics from
Canadian universities. Actively involved in academic,
industrial, and public services, including Advisor to
the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
at HKUST, Vice-Chairman of the Energy Group of the
Federation of Hong Kong Industries, and Member of the
Dangerous Goods Standing Committee of the Hong Kong
Fire Services Department.
B.Sc., B.ASc., MSc., CEng, FEI, MIGEM, MHKIE, MHKAEE,
MHKIM
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Motoyuki Hirabayashi
Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd.
Senior General Manager of the Energy Resources & Carbon Neutral Business Development Department at Osaka Gas. Led the acquisition of upstream interests in the Gorgon LNG Project in Australia. As President of Osaka Gas Singapore, expanded energy businesses across ASEAN countries. Currently spearheading upstream operations and carbon neutral initiatives in the U.S. and Australia. Graduated of Osaka University, Faculty of Economics in 1992.
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Tomoo Machiba
Managing Director, Zeroboard Research Institute Zeroboard Inc.
Mr. Machiba has over 25 years of experience in sustainable development, climate change and energy transition as public policy and corporate strategy advisor. Living abroad for nearly a quarter century, he has established an extensive international profile as he worked at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Wuppertal Institute, OECD, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and UAE federal government, most lately as Deputy Director of UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). He is currently serving as Managing Director of the Zeroboard Research Institute at Zeroboard Inc., a leading GHG/ESG data solutions provider in Japan and Asia-Pacific. Mr. Machiba is also serving on GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) and GHG Protocol’s Technical Working Group (TWG).
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Bien Wong
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Bien Wong is a seasoned professional with extensive
experience in sustainability strategy, corporate
communications, and investor relations. As Head of
Group ESG, he leads the integration of sustainability
into business strategy and ensures compliance with
global standards. He has worked with multinational
firms and Hong Kong-listed companies, specializing in
ESG disclosure and corporate compliance.
He holds a master’s degree from The University of Hong
Kong and a bachelor’s degree from the University of
York, UK. Bien was among the first in Asia Pacific to
complete the Certified ESG Analyst (CESGA) program and
now serves as an examiner for EFFAS.
Beyond his corporate role, Bien is active in public
service, promoting sustainable finance and good
governance. He sits on several advisory bodies for the
HKSAR Government, including the Environmental Campaign
Committee and Housing Appeal Panel. He also serves as
a Board Governor of Friends of the Earth Hong Kong,
where he supports environmental advocacy and
sustainability initiatives.
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Co-organiser
The Japan Gas Association
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
The LNG Value Chain and the Carbon-Neutral Society(On-site and online streaming)
-
2025.09.24[Wed]
14:00~17:00
(Venue Open 14:00)
- Theme Weeks Connect (Outside Venue)
© 2025 by Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd.
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week









