The Japan Gas Association
1-15-12 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo105-0001, JAPAN21 December 2020
JGA Chair Michiaki Hirose Press conference on 21 December 2020
Summary of remarks

1. Looking back on 2020
(1) Business operation amid COVID-19 pandemic situation
This year's top topic is the spread of the COVID-19. Each gas company hastaken thorough infection prevention measures to continue stable gas supply,and so far, there have been no cases of supply disruptions. Since thenumber of infected people has rapidly been increasing , we must be vigilant
about our surroundings so that we can prevent any accidents from occurring.
The Gas Association had set up a headquarters for COVID-19
countermeasures and supported business continuity of gas companies byproviding information. In addition, to improve the level of response as thegas industry, we organized examples of stable supply and security operations
in COVID-19 situation and shared information with our member gascompanies.
In terms of customer-services, gas companies are setting grace of payment
deadline of gas bill because of the social situation that it is necessary tosupport the needy due to repercussions of the COVID-19.
In addition,
since gas security workers may visit customers' homes, gas companies havetaken measures such as confirming the customer's thoughts in advance
before conducting operations.
In light of management of JGA, online was utilized for various meetings
including periodical Council meetings. Even during the period whenbusiness trips is possible, events were held in "hybrid style" which allow

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participants can choose joining events in person or online, and now suchoperation has become established. Many of the planned events were held
online this year.
Although there are disadvantages of not being able tomeet each other, by cutting the time for traveling, it made easier for gas
companies located far away to join events. In addition, there was a positiveeffect that the number of participants increased compared to the past. We
temporary have held JGA chair's press conferences at the JGA Building
taking infection prevention measures.
Other than that, since we were not able to hold Annual meeting in person andoccasions to meet member companies had decreased, we have set up
opportunities to exchange opinions utilizing online between chief executivesof member gas companies other than board members of JGA. We named
those online meetings "NŌ-mitsu" communication" in the sense ofimplementing "close communications avoiding closed spaces, crowded
places, close-contact settings. (In Japanese, nōmitsu's "nō" means "close",and "mitsu" means " closed spaces / crowded places / close-contact settings". Therefore, "NŌ-mitsu" signifies "close communication with "no" closed
spaces / crowded places / close-contact settings".) We held a total of 33
discussion meetings and participated 157 top executives of gas companies.
Around 5 companies joined for each "NŌ-mitsu communication meeting.
We achieved to hear actual conditions of various gas companies in eachregion and difficulties of their business activities, and I realized that waseffective as a new communication way.
(2) Expressing intention to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral,
carbon-free society in 2050
Another big topic of this year is that we have expressed our willingness tocontribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral, carbon-free society in 2050.
As gas companies are required to respond to various changes in theenvironment, the "Study Committee on the Ideal Gas Business for 2050" hasbeen held for the first time in about 10 years as a study committee of the2Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) of METI.
The Study Committee started from September this year with three main
themes of "low carbonization / decarbonization," "strengthening resilience,"and "strengthening the management base of gas business."
On October 26, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide announced a policy of "aimingto realize a carbon-neutral, carbon-free society in 2050," which made theStudy Committee very timely. Prime Minister Suga's declaration positions
the 30 years up to 2050 as a low-carbon society, how to face these 30 years,
and how to overcome that to realize a "2050 carbon-neutral, decarbonizedsociety". This is an issue that has both strategicity and flexibility.
The JGA also announced at press conference in November that we will
"actively contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral, carbon-free society
as gas industry." We also presented the "Carbon Neutral Challenge 2050",
which was the basis of the press conference, at the "4th Study Committee onthe Ideal Gas Business for 2050" held on December 16th.
Since that study committee will be held from the next month onward, I would
like to continue to actively participate and draw the future image and role of
the gas business with the help of the government and the committee
members.
I would like to touch on again the carbon-neutral efforts of the gas industry. "We will contribute to realize a "2050 carbon-neutral, decarbonized society"while steadily promoting the deepening of a low-carbon society by making fulluse of following three initiatives, including overseas contributions.
The first our initiative is "Thorough shift to natural gas and advanced use ofnatural gas," which is an initiative on demand side. First, we will thoroughly
reduce carbon. We will work on fuel conversion from oil and coal to cleaner
natural gas, widespread use of cogeneration and fuel cells, and higher
efficiency of equipment.

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The second is "Expansion of carbon neutral gas," which is an initiative on
supply side. In addition to taking on the challenge of innovation such as
methanation, hydrogen utilization, and CCUS, we will promote the expansionof carbon-neutral gas by making full use of various means such as furtherutilization of biogas and carbon-neutral LNG.
The third is "Initiatives such as overseas contributions." Japan's gas industry
will work to contribute to global CO2 reduction through innovative gas
appliances developed in Japan and overseas expansion of engineering
capabilities that make use of our knowledge as an advanced LNG country.
There are many things to do, but we will accelerate each initiative and take on
the challenge of advanced innovation. In addition, as a milestone for 2050,
we continue considering the details of our efforts toward 2030.
I would have to say the next year (2021) will also be a tough year, but we, thegas industry, will do our best to make it a better year.

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