Nobuyuki Higashi, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Planning, INPEX
18 January 2016

What are your strategic priorities and growth targets for the next 12-24 months?

The successful progress of our 2 major LNG projects, Ichys and Abady.

Where do you see the greatest opportunity in the O&G market and how are you positioned to capture this opportunity?

Growing gas market in Asia. New business model for flexible trade supported by the competitive supply sources is the key. Industrial collaboration to create the gas value chain in emerging countries may be essential.

What do you foresee as the greatest challenge to our industry's future growth?

The impact of new framework after COP21. Particularly the direction of coal usage in developing countries shall affect the future gas demand.

These are tough market conditions with depressed oil prices and global reductions in capex and workforce, what measures and practices are you putting in place to adapt to this new (but not unknown) working environment?

Umm…we have no magic wand. Reviewing every process, cost and schedule precisely.

If you could wave a magic wand over the global industry, what would you change and why?

A true global gas price. A global gas price would encourage faster penetration of gas in energy markets, make it easier to finance new sources of gas supply and offer customers world-wide greater access to risk management tools.

How would you describe your company in once sentence to a new investor/client?

Now we are dieting to get a slim & tough body!

You are attending our 2016 Asia Pacific Assembly, what is your goal at this event and what take-away(s) do you want attendees to go home with regarding your company and your work in Asia Pacific?

To exchange views among investors and regulators, sellers and buyers, upstream and downstream for shaping a consensus about the future market.

How did you come to be in the O&G industry?

After 31 years carrier as a banker working in JBIC, I joined INPEX in 2013.

What is your proudest work-related achievement to date?

The initial arrangement for financing to Sakhalin II project under the complex political situation in 1991.

What one businessman/women do you admire most and why?

Mr. Kazunori Umeda who was my first boss in JBIC and touched me every necessary skill, tactics and philosophy.

What was the wisest advice you received from a mentor?

Try what you think to be done if you can find even 1% chance to achieve.

What advice would you pass onto a recent graduate embarking on a career in O&G?

Umm… Don’t try for exploring if you can find only 1% chance of discover.

How and where do you prefer to spend your spare time?

In “ONSEN” – Japanese hot spring

What is your all-time favourite book?

“Hikawa Seiwa” – The words of Count Kaisyu Katsu, one of the “Last SAMURAI”

What is you all-time favourite film?

“Chariot of Fire”

What three items would you take with you to a desert island?

One is enough — a magic wand