Offshore methane hydrates in Japan: Research Report published

Dr Constantinos Yiallourides has recently completed a 14 months-long research project in Tokyo, Japan. The project examined the potential prospects and benefits from the commercial development of offshore methane hydrates in Japan and whether existing legal frameworks are sufficiently robust to address the foreseeable environmental risks posed by methane hydrate exploration and exploitation operations in Japan and beyond. 

The project investigated how methane hydrates fit within Japan's established energy policy and existing legal framework. It evaluated the extent to which the current framework is sufficient to address the environmental risks and what regulatory changes might be required. 

The project was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), an award administered jointly with the British Academy. 

A comprehensive research report  outlining key research findings has now been released