The Japan Gas Association
1-15-12 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo105-0001, JAPAN18 March 2021

Press conference for the Change of JGA Chair

1. Summary of remarks of JGA Chair of HIROSE Michiaki
At the JGA Board meeting held today (18 March), I will retire from the Chairof JGA at the end of March this year, and today the Board meeting decided thatMr. HONJO, Takehiro, the Chair of Osaka Gas, who has supported me as a Vice
Chair of JGA, will take over my position of JGA.
Looking back on the three years I served as JGA Chair, in the first half of theperiod, competition due to the liberalization of electricity and gas became fullscale. In response to such situation, it became apparent that city gas utilities
would choose new management forms and business structures. Along with that,
JGA also implemented reforms of the organization and amended the articles ofassociation. In the latter half of the period, especially the last year (2020) was adifficult year due to the COVID-19 disasters, but we have worked on various
issues facing the gas business, such as carbon neutralization, resilience, andregional revitalization which is an issue for local gas companies.
For the past three years, I have kept close communication with the media. Iwould like to express my sincere gratitude.
I would also like to thank the member gas companies and the Ministry ofEconomy, Trade and Industry and other authorities, experts, and relatedorganizations. I would like to ask for your continued support for the new officersof JGA.

２．Summary of remarks of JGA Vice Chair of HONJO, Takehiro
From 1 April , I will be appointed the Chairman of JGA after Mr. Hirose.
The city gas industry is now in the wake of Prime Minister Suga's "2050
Carbon Neutral Declaration," while focusing on intense energy competition after
the full liberalization of gas retailing and responding to the COVID-19 infection.
We have just taken on the challenge of contributing to the realization of acarbon-free society.
At a time when the city gas industry is facing a very important phase, I will
do my best and keep that in mind as the new Chair of JGA,
During the period, Mr. Hirose worked to strengthen resilience such as
responding to COVID-19 infections and responding to frequent natural disasters,
while also focusing on support for the sustainable development of local gascompanies.
In November of the last year (2020) , Mr. Hirose showed the way the city gas
industry should take to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, both internally andexternally. I would like to express my sincere respect and gratitude for theachievements of Mr. Hirose.
While focusing on the mission of energy companies, such as stable supply
and strengthening resilience, I will steadily advance efforts toward advanced
utilization of natural gas and carbon neutrality, which contribute to low
carbonization, and further regional revitalization. I would like to satisfy"customers," "society," and "city gas companies," with sincerity and efforts suchas strengthening support for local gas companies that contribute to regionalrevitalization.
We would like to ask the government, related organizations, and the media
companies gathered today for their further understanding and support for theefforts of JGA and the city gas industry.