The Japan Gas Association
1-15-12 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo105-0001, JAPANMarch 17, 2022

Summary of Remarks by JGA Chair HONJO Takehiro

On the evening of March 16, an earthquake with a maximum intensity of
6 upper occurred with its epicenter off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture. We
extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected. A task force wasimmediately set up within the Japan Gas Association after the earthquake togather information, but no major damage, such as supply disruptions, has beenreported so far. The gas industry will continue to implement earthquake
countermeasures to ensure a stable supply.
In addition, there are ongoing concerns about LNG supply and demandand price increases due to the current international conflict. At this time, allcompanies are working to ensure stable LNG procurement and there are no
supply disruptions, but the Japan Gas Association established the "Information
Liaison Headquarters for Feedstock Procurement Related to the Situation in
Russia and Ukraine" on February 25 in an effort to keep abreast of information.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely in close cooperation with gas
utility companies and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.

1. Japan Gas Association Business Plan for FY2022
In the environment surrounding the industry, expectations for gas utilities
are increasing as public and private sector efforts to realize a carbon-neutral
society continue to progress. In addition, social demands for the enhancement1

of energy security and resilience, such as stable supply and cyber security
measures, are expected to increase further. In addition, there are changes in
the management structure of member companies, such as the legal separationof the pipeline division of major gas companies.

Under these circumstances, we will make FY2022, which marks the 150th
anniversary of the gas business, a milestone year for taking a new step toward
the transformation to a next-generation thermal energy industry and further
development, by accelerating efforts to realize the Carbon Neutral Challenge
2050 Action Plan, working to ensure stable supply and safety as the foundationof the gas business, and supporting member companies' activities toward
regional decarbonization and local development.

Specifically, the following five items will be addressed.
The first is the realization of the Carbon Neutral Challenge 2050 Action
Plan. We will contribute to the steady reduction of CO2 emissions andenhancement of energy security through fuel conversion and advanced use ofnatural gas, promote industry-wide efforts to establish methanation technology,
and promote efforts to acquire the environmental value of carbon neutral gas.
The second is "further enhancement of resilience. We will strengthen
cooperation with the government and business operators to contribute to stablesupply and cyber security, support the improvement of security levels, promote
the introduction of smart security, and further strengthen measures against
natural disasters such as windstorms, floods, and earthquakes, which arebecoming increasingly severe.

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The Third is "contribution to regional decarbonization and localdevelopment. The JBIC will support member businesses, strengthen
information dissemination and horizontal deployment methods, and help
member businesses promote their initiatives through collaboration with local
governments.
The fourth is to "enhance information dissemination and external activities.
The fourth is "enhancement of information dissemination and external
activities," which will involve active participation in policy and institutional
discussions aimed at sustainable growth of the gas business, as well as
enhancement of information dissemination and external activities, such as
strengthening public relations activities.
Finally, we will develop and strengthen our organizational infrastructure.
We will work to respond to the diversification of management styles of ourmember companies and to effectively and efficiently operate our businessthrough the use of digital technology.

2. Introduction of new concept word
As a new concept word to communicate our efforts to achieve carbon
neutrality of city gas, we have introduced " （ Go! ガ ス テ ナ ブ ル ） Go!
Gastainable," which means "a sustainable future realized through gas," and wewill promote its use by our member companies.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the start of the gas business, wewould like to use this concept word widely as a "watchword" for the industry as
a whole to take on the challenge to make further leaps toward the future.
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