The move follows a similar loan worth 130 billion yen hat the JBIC extended to JERA, a joint venture between Chubu Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power, earlier this month in syndication with private sector financial institutions.

"The loan is aimed at supporting JERA's import of LNG to secure a stable supply of electricity by ensuring a stable energy flow to Japan," the JBIC said in a statement.

Japan wants to avoid an energy crunch by offering financial support before winter, when heating demand is expected to increase, and as utilities face the risk of disruption to supply from Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Resource-poor Japan has been implementing various steps to secure LNG, including contingency plans to allow state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) to buy the fuel in case of emergency and to allow the government to order large users to limit use of city gas when shortages risk adversely affects the national economy and people's lives.

($1 = 148.4600 yen)

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Mark Potter)