Jera to check two thermal power plants in Japan after fire

Jera, Japan’s biggest power generator, will check two thermal power plants that are using woody biomass fuel similar to the Taketoyo thermal power station which was hit by a fire on Jan. 31, it said in a statement.

Japan is the world’s second biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and any disruptions at its domestic power plants — be that thermal or nuclear facilities — are closely watched by traders for indications of a demand increase.

The Taketoyo No.5 unit in Aichi Prefecture, one of Japan’s biggest coal-fired power plants, is run by co-firing coal and biomass. It suspended operations on Wednesday after smoke emanated from near a boiler and a fire broke out on the belt conveyor transporting fuel.