JERA Secures Summer LNG Supplies, Profit Jumps 31%

Japanese utility JERA has secured sufficient liquefied natural gas (LNG) stocks to cover peak summer demand from August to October, said executive officer Masato Otaki. The company imports about 35 million metric tons annually and has diversified its LNG supply portfolio away from Qatar.

JERA's efforts to manage winter reserves include leveraging its global trading arm to optimize procurement. This comes amid a broader reshaping of global gas flows, with the US connecting the Krk terminal to the Balkan gas market.

The company is evaluating gas-fired power plant projects in the US for its North American independent power producer (IPP) operations, driven by increasing demand from data centers. JERA's quarterly profit rose 31% year-on-year to 123.1 billion yen ($766 million), thanks largely to stronger domestic thermal and gas operations, particularly LNG and coal.