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Transcripción del abstract original del autor: Economic dispatch based power modelling studies suggest that the outlook for incremental LNG demand from Japan's power utilities is weak. This is mainly due to a culmination of deregulatory pressures to cut costs, slower than expected power growth in Japan over the past five years, and substantial increase in base-load nuclear and coal-fired power generation facilities. These base-load facilities were originally constructed on long lead to meet emerging energy demand that, due to current difficult economic conditions, has not yet materialised. Displacement of LNG by this over-supply of base-load will result in a sharp contraction in overall demand from the major LNG consuming power utilities over the next five years by up to 7 Mtpa below 2000 levels. This demand contraction is expected to be offset by increased demand for gas from third party power generation and strong industrial demand growth from the gas companies. Factors that may positively influence short-term LNG demand from Japan's power utilities include; short-term economic improvements, delays in Japan's base-load coal and nuclear programs and environmental drivers. Increasing use of LNG as a peak-shaving fuel is expected to fundamentally change future growth patterns making them far more cyclic. On a customer-by-customer basis, regional effects could be quite pronounced. For suppliers, several characteristics will help them weather such fluctuations including strong relationships, good portfolio development and a strong commitment to reliability and security of supply.