The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has estimated that there approximately 80,000 gas pipes across the country in commercial and residential buildings that pose a risk of gas leaks due to the age of the pipes. An additional survey in 2014 found that there were 8,290 ageing pipes in public buildings, including schools and community centres.

Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas and other gas companies are calling for old pipes to be upgraded to the newer ones which do not corrode as fast and are safer in earthquakes, but the high cost of replacement has been a significant obstacle.

Gas Pipes Japan
[Left] Steel gas pipes and corrosion after 20 years. [Right] New gas pipes.
Up until the mid-1990s, steel gas pipes were standard. Steel piping corrodes more easily, and is at risk of developing leaks after 20 years. It is also prone to rupture in earthquakes. Over 7,000 gas pipes ruptured during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. From 1996, the installation of the old style of gas pipes was prohibited, which means the older pipes will be nearing the end of their service life.

Gas pipes running under roads are the property of the gas company, while the pipes running under private land are the responsibility of the landowners. The cost to replace pipes connecting to an apartment building or house must be borne by the property owner. New pipe installation can cost anywhere from a few million Yen up to tens of millions of Yen. The cost and effort required means that many property owners postpone the necessary upgrades.

Sources:
The Asahi Shimbun, February 4, 2015.
The Shikoku Shimbun, April 21, 2015.
The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 6, 2015.

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