Japan

Plant to begin operating in mid-2014.

Imports of thermal coal and crude oil also rise significantly.

Partner will be the US Department of Energy.

Government agency claims Japan can save up to US$20 billion by restarting half its nuclear reactors.

New safety measures to be finalized by July.

Japan's Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant may be closed due to an active fault.

Electricity market reform moves slowly in Japan. Recently, however, the Japanese government further clarified its position and called for legal unbundling in the sector – one of the options previously proposed for breaking up the electricity industry.

Japan's Hitachi Zosen Corp. will acquire NAC International Inc., a U.S. nuclear fuel cycle consultancy that manages spent fuel.

Imports of liquefied natural gas soar to a record 87 million tons in 2012.

Measures will be introduced to protect Japanese nuclear power facilities against natural disasters and terrorism.

To be built off the coast of Fukushima.

Alaska turns to Japan following a drop in demand in the USA.

Solar Frontier, a Japanese thin-film PV manufacturer, has teamed up with Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) in order to jointly establish an investment company which will provide funding for PV plants in Japan.

Accounted for almost a tenth of all U.S. patent applications in Q3 2012.

Major trading house Sumitomo Corp. aims to beef up its natural resources and energy operations, said its

Marubeni Corp. said Thursday it has landed an order from the Bangladesh Power Development Board to build a