Osaka Gas begins operations at new Himeji plant in Japan

Group 1: Osaka Gas Operations - Osaka Gas has commenced commercial operations at the No.1 unit of its new 1.25GW Himeji gas-fired power plant in western Japan, marking the start of expanded domestic thermal power generation capacity [1] - The Himeji power station comprises two units, each with a capacity of 622.6MW, with the No.2 unit scheduled to begin operations in May [1][2] Group 2: Capacity and Demand - Once both units are operational, Osaka Gas's domestic thermal power generation capacity is expected to increase from approximately 2GW to around 3.2GW [2] - The facility uses natural gas as fuel and is designed to meet rising electricity demand driven by data centres and AI applications [2][4] Group 3: Strategic Context - Japan's Strategic Energy Plan identifies natural gas as a realistic transition fuel towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 [2] - The country has been increasing new gas-fired capacity through auctions to replace ageing coal plants [3] Group 4: Related Acquisitions - In April 2025, ArcLight Capital Partners reached a definitive purchase agreement with Osaka Gas USA and Kyuden International Americas to acquire their interests in Kleen Energy Systems, a 620MW natural gas-fired power generation asset in New England, US [3] - ArcLight's acquisition aligns with its strategy to address increasing power demand driven by AI and electrification trends [4]