LNG usage in Japan hits record

Japan's 10 utilities consumed a record 4.81 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas in August, up 15.4 percent from a year earlier, industry data showed on Tuesday, as they burned more gas to offset a fall in nuclear power generation, Seatrade Asia online reports. The utilities produced 84.18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in August, down 12.1 percent from a year earlier, the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan said.
The 12.1 percent fall was the biggest ever year-on-year percentage decline for the month of August as businesses and households ramped up energy saving measures to help avert power outages.