Western Australia’s vast natural resources and clean-energy transition will be the focus of discussions at Premier Roger Cook’s meetings in Japan. Photo: Western Australian Government.
Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook is heading to Japan for his first official trip since forming government earlier this year.
Premier Cook will meet high-level Japanese Government and industry stakeholders to discuss continued collaboration in the clean-energy transition and the work that the two nations can do together to benefit each other.
The clean-energy transition will have positive environmental effects for both parties while also bolstering an already strong economic and diplomatic relationship between Japan and Western Australia.
Liquified natural gas is a vital part of Japan’s energy transition and will be an important part of the trip’s discussions. These will be in addition to mutually advantageous cooperation across areas vital to the energy transition, such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage, hydrogen, ammonia and green iron.
Western Australia has shipped liquified natural gas to Japan since 1989, helping meet the energy needs of the Japanese industrial and consumer markets.
“Being the first official visit to Japan since the election, this is a chance to reinforce how much we value our longstanding relationship and recommit to our joint priorities,” Mr Cook said.
“Having face-to-face meetings with key Japanese Government and industry stakeholders affords us the opportunity to further strengthen the fantastic relationship WA and Japan have shared for so many years.”
Japan is Western Australia’s second-largest trading partner and trade between them is worth a combined $29.8 billion.
The relationship with Japan is seeing particular focus this year, as Premier Cook will also travel to the Osaka World Expo 2025 in September. In October, Premier Cook will host the 62nd Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC) Annual Joint Business Conference, whose theme is “Navigating New Realities – Turbulence, Transition and Technology”.
Each party brings something to the table. Western Australia’s vast natural resources and friendly relationship with Japan make it a prime choice for liquified natural gas, while Japan’s high-tech industrial capacity gives it great potential for the decarbonisation economy.
”Japan has been a valued customer of Western Australian energy for decades,” Mr Cook said. ”I am optimistic this will continue as we support their energy transition with LNG and pursue next-generation fuels like hydrogen and ammonia.”
