The Japanese energy company JERA has announced an investment of $1.5 billion to acquire shale gas assets in the United States. This investment pertains to natural gas fields in the Haynesville basin, aligning with JERA’s strategy to strengthen its position in the American gas market.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the deal and production plans
According to JERA’s official press release, the company has entered into an agreement to purchase assets from Williams and GEP Haynesville II. Currently, these fields produce about 500 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and include 200 undeveloped sites. The agreement includes the potential to increase production to 1 billion cubic feet per day, significantly enhancing JERA’s energy potential in the region.
Just a month ago, it was reported that JERA was in negotiations to acquire shale assets in the U.S. for up to $1.7 billion. Additionally, the company is considering participation in the large-scale Alaska LNG project, which aims to produce 20 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually. This gas will be transported via an 800-mile pipeline to Alaska’s bay for further supply to global markets, as well as meeting the needs of domestic consumers in the state of Alaska.
Japanese investments in U.S. energy
Japanese companies have long been interested in the Alaska LNG project, which has a total estimated cost of $44 billion. However, its implementation is hindered by high costs associated with the region’s challenging climatic conditions and the need to build extensive infrastructure.
It is worth noting that under the trade agreement between the U.S. and Japan, Tokyo committed to purchasing American energy resources worth $7 billion to reduce the trade imbalance between the countries.
“The U.S. energy sector holds leading positions in the global LNG market, and JERA’s investments align with this trend,” said John O’Brien, CEO of JERA Americas.
John O’Brien also emphasized that the acquisition of assets in Haynesville will be an important strategic addition to the company’s portfolio and will strengthen control over supply chains, as well as reaffirm the commitment to developing the U.S. energy sector.