Note: The following press release is an English translation of the Japanese-language original

July 24, 2013
Company Name: Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX)
President:

Osamu Watanabe

Inquiries:

Media and Investor Relations Department

TEL.:+81-3-6268-7110

Koriyama North Pipeline to be ConstructedJapan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (hereafter, “JAPEX”) announces its decision toconstruct a new pipeline for the transportation of natural gas between Motomiya-Cityand Koriyama-City in Fukushima Prefecture (hereafter, “Koriyama North Pipeline”).
Over the years, JAPEX has constructed and operated Niigata-Sendai Pipeline (261km,operation commenced April 1996) and Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline (95km, operationcommenced March 2007), and has been supplying natural gas along the said pipelines
through JAPEX’s affiliate, TOHOKU NATURAL GAS Co., Inc., established jointly withTohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.
JAPEX has been whole saling natural gas to Tobu Gas Co., Ltd. Fukushima Branch(hereafter, “Tobu Gas”), which covers Koriyama-City area in its town gas business, since
Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline commenced operation. The Koriyama North Pipeline will
be a new pipeline that bifurcates from the Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline within
Motomiya-City situated in the north of Koriyama-City and extends toward the easternregion of Koriyama-City which is also a Tobu Gas service area. The construction of thispipeline will significantly enhance the capacity to supply natural gas to Koriyama-City
as well as the stability of that supply, and enable JAPEX to respond more flexibly thanin the past to the customer’s demand, mainly for industrial use. Utilizing the Koriyama
North Pipeline in collaboration with Tobu Gas, JAPEX will promote the widespread useof natural gas, thereby contributing to the protection of the environment and economic
stimulation in the region.
Natural gas is expected to come into more widespread use in the future as anenvironmentally friendly energy source. JAPEX is currently investigating thecommercialization of a project to construct an LNG receiving terminal in Soma,
Fukushima Prefecture (November 30, 2012 news release), with a view to improving thegas supply infrastructure as well as securing a stable gas source (LNG) to further
strengthen an integrated natural gas supply system comprising upstream, midstreamand downstream operation.
JAPEX will pay careful attention to matters of safety when constructing theKoriyama North Pipeline and greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation inthis regard.
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【Outline of Koriyama North Pipeline】
Section:From Motomiya-City, Fukushima Prefecture (gas pipelinebifurcation point from the Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline) toKoriyama-City, Fukushima Prefecture
Length:Approximately 12km

Diameter:

6 inches (150mm)

Design pressure: 6.86MPa
Commencement of service: February 2015 (scheduled)【Natural gas pipeline network】

SendaiCity（TOHOKU NATURAL GAS CO.,INC.）

Yamagata Gas Pipeline

ShiroichiCity

LNG receiving terminal(NIHONKAI LNG CO.,LTD)

NiigataCity

Niigata-Sendai Pipeline

Fukushima

Soma LNG receiving terminal(commercializationunder consideration)
Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline

Koriyama
CityMotomiya
Motomiya
Valve Station

Koriyama

Koriyama North Pipeline(planned)

Shiroishi-Koriyama Pipeline
Koriyama
Valve Station

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