Employee Spotlight: Kazunori Terao

This week in our Employee Spotlight series, we meet Kazunori Terao, who discusses his career and experiences at JERA. Don’t forget to like the JERA page for more employee stories and to keep up to date with our latest position openings.

Tell us a little about yourself

I was born and raised in Toyama Prefecture. I joined an EPC company in 2013 after completing foreign study (Arabic major) at university. At that company, I oversaw business development and sales for about seven years as the Middle East region manager for the oil, gas, and LNG plant business. I was stationed in Qatar and Iran, where I witnessed the world's largest single gas field, “North Field / South Pars”, as well as the world's largest LNG liquefaction facilities. Through that work I experienced the dynamic nature of the energy industry and gained self-confidence to put together large contracts involving a variety of stakeholders.

In 2020, I was lucky enough to join JERA. The role played by JERA shareholders in Middle East LNG projects is well known to industry players there, and I was very happy to be a part of that history.

My hobbies include traveling and reading. My travels range from walking around my neighborhood to overseas, and I especially enjoy reading history books. After deciding where to go on a trip, I read books about the area or decide where to go on a trip based on a book I read. I also help my wife run a dance school.

What is your role in JERA and what do you enjoy most about that role?

Since joining JERA, I have been responsible for long-term LNG origination. Following trends in the energy industry is almost my hobby, so I enjoy being at the forefront. However, since long-term LNG contracts are large in scale, they require a high degree of consideration, and recently opportunities to procure those long-term LNG contracts as fuel for new power plants in Japan have become limited due to changes in the market. Therefore, we must consider our strategy of what our long-term LNG procurement should be in the future and commit ourselves not only to a stable supply for the domestic market, but also to trade, international markets and the business environment in the decades ahead. Amid this tough transition, we are still working with others both inside and outside the company to make new commitments.

Despite the challenges, reaching a deal in cooperation with others is exciting. One example is the LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement with Venture Global of the US, which was signed in April 2023.

What attracted you to JERA?

As one of the world's largest LNG buyers who played a key role in LNG industry development, especially on the demand side, JERA has the experience, knowledge, power generation assets, and human resources to meet a significant portion of Japan's energy needs. As a leader in the industry, JERA has a lot to offer that other companies cannot.

There is no doubt that JERA is playing a part in the energy transition in Japan and around the world, and I find it attractive that JERA is trying to provide realistic solutions to this difficult issue, where every country has different priorities and needs, paying attention not only to renewables and new energy sources, but also conventional sources.

In particular, I believe that JERA's LNG business requires us to learn the day-to-day transactions in a market that continues to develop in the process of commodification. We must utilize LNG in gas-to-power projects, to make LNG itself low-carbon, to complement new energy sources such as renewables, ammonia, and hydrogen, and develop the business while taking into account the historical legacy as well as maintaining a stable supply of LNG today. I strongly feel that this is a challenge and a job that cannot be undertaken anywhere else but at JERA.

What has been your most transformative experience since joining JERA?

Immediately after joining the company, I was surprised to see that the management team made decisions through frank discussions, and that the deal nature is scrutinized by experienced professionals. As I worked to enhance our corporate value, I became more sensitive to identifying issues and risks and learned to construct logically what had to be done quantitatively and qualitatively. In particular, since Japanese companies have a history of being deeply involved in the LNG industry, including both JERA and its shareholders, the level of expertise required and expectations from outside the company are high, so I am always learning and improving.

I have also seen JERA promoting the inclusion and equality of women in the workplace and flexible work styles, which has had a profound impact on my values and made me cherish my family and leisure time even more.

What advice would you like to pass on to your younger self?

Do your best in the job at hand. People are watching how you work. Secondly, value your encounters with people. The energy industry is a big but small world, and you will meet people again and again, and they will become a part of your career. And have something to do outside of work. It will make your life more enjoyable.

What would you say to people who are about to join JERA?

Although it still retains some elements of a traditional electric power company, JERA is far from traditional. Considering its business scale with a relatively small workforce, it's not the typical large organization where you feel that anyone could achieve the same results in my opinion. I would also like to work with people who have a strong desire to continue to make JERA an innovative company in the industry.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Kazunori and learning about his journey at JERA. If you are interested in learning more about?#LifeatJERA ?or you’re looking for a new challenge this year, check out the open positions under “Jobs” and stay connected with us by following the JERA LinkedIn page.