Australia’s Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King, will travel to Japan this weekend for high-level discussions with global partners on oil, gas and broader energy security, as volatility continues to affect international markets.
Minister King will attend the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum, a two-day event co-hosted by the Japanese and United States governments to address the stability and resilience of regional energy systems.
The meeting will bring together ministers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Timor-Leste, reflecting the growing urgency around collective energy response in the Indo-Pacific.
With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupting oil supply routes and creating price uncertainties, the forum is expected to focus heavily on ensuring secure and diversified oil and gas supply chains.
Australia, a leading LNG exporter to key energy markets in Asia, is positioning itself as a central player in maintaining regional energy security.
“Australia is committed to resilient and secure energy supply chains that underpin regional stability and economic security,” Minister King said.
“Global supply chains and energy security challenges cannot be solved by any country alone, and forums like this are essential for coordinated action and shared solutions.”
The forum, co-hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the US National Energy Dominance Council, comes at a time when major energy importers in Asia are seeking greater supply stability and diversification.
Japan, South Korea, and other regional partners remain heavily dependent on liquefied natural gas and oil imports to meet domestic demand and power industry growth.
Industry observers say Australia’s participation will reinforce its position as a reliable energy supplier to Asian partners, serving both immediate oil and gas needs and long-term decarbonisation goals through cleaner energy initiatives.
During the visit, Minister King will also hold bilateral meetings with her Japanese counterpart, Minister for Economy, Trade and Investment Ryosei Akazawa, and South Korea’s Minister for Trade, Industry, and Resources, Dr Jungkwan Kim.
Discussions are expected to cover not only LNG and oil trade cooperation but also future collaboration in hydrogen and low-carbon energy technologies.
The upcoming ministerial marks Minister King’s fifth visit to Japan.
Japan continues to be Australia’s largest LNG customer and a key destination for investment in energy infrastructure projects.
