Japan establishes geothermal advisory group to support municipality engagement
Tsuchiyu Onsen, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan (source: flickr/ likeablerodent, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
18 Jun 2016
The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) under Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry has established a geothermal advisory committee to support municipalities in their activities fostering geothermal development.
The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), an organization under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), established an Advisory Committee for the Development of Geothermal Resources, aiming to support regional municipalities in playing increasing roles as coordinators for appropriate management of geothermal resources. The committee will provide consultation services, including conveyance of information on technical expertise matters.
Background
Recently, regional municipalities have been playing increasingly important roles as coordinators for appropriate management of geothermal resources. Meanwhile, many regional municipalities are facing challenges regarding this issue, including a lack of accumulated expertise on the development of geothermal resources and a shortage of networks to find appropriate experts.
To overcome these challenges, JOGMEC decided to establish a third-party organization of experts to support regional municipalities through providing consultation services, including conveyance of information on technical matters involving the development of geothermal resources to such municipalities. By doing so, JOGMEC will further expand the introduction of geothermal power generation into regional areas.
Outline of major activities of the committee
- Providing expert-based information on the regional development of geothermal resources to regional municipalities that have requested expert advice on the issue;
- Introducing experts in the field of the development of geothermal resources and other areas to regional municipalities in response to their requests;
- Conducting researches that will contribute to sustainable development of geothermal resources; etc.
The division at the Ministry in charge of the activities and the committee is the Fuel Policy Planning Office, Policy Planning Division, Natural Resources and Fuel Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.
