The Australian energy minister said Wednesday the country will remain a "reliable energy supplier" for Japan after the resource-poor country expressed concern over Canberra's new rule restricting carbon emissions.
"We are committed to working with Japan, one of our most important partners," Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in his speech in Tokyo, vowing that Australia will continue to supply the country with resources such as liquefied natural gas and coal.
His remarks came after a new Australian law came into force on July 1, requiring new LNG facilities to be carbon neutral, while facilities already in operation need to lower their carbon emissions by 4.9 percent a year until 2030 and more after that year.
Japan imports more than 40 percent of its LNG from Australia.
While assuring that Australia remains committed to its energy exports to Japan, Bowen also said his country will endorse renewable energy solutions as a way to reduce carbon emissions.
Last month, Japan's trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura voiced his apprehension about the potential disruption the newly introduced legislation could cause to Japan's stable acquisition of energy.
It will have "an extremely significant impact on Japan's LNG business in Australia," Nishimura said, referring to the ongoing Barossa gas project off Australia's Northern Territory, in which Japan has invested.
