It is understood a coal tax of ¥700 ($10) will be phased in by 2007 in three stages, starting with a ¥230 per tonne charge on October 1. The tariff will apply to all thermal coal imports, including 46 million tonnes of Australian exports, worth $3.2 billion last year.
As for natural gas, it is understood a petroleum tax on natural gas imports will rise 50% from ¥720 per tonne to ¥1080 per tonne by April 2007.
The Japanese government has also signalled it will stop awarding grants to thermal power plants powered by coal, oil and other fossil fuels.
