This summer, the Japanese government initiated yet another voluntary power savings measure amid concerns of possible power shortages.

Though no numerical targets have been set, this is the first time since the Fukushima disaster in March 2011 that all the nuclear power plants have been offline even during the summer months.

While the country’s nine major utilities project a supply surplus of about 4.6% that is only slightly over the 3% surplus requirement by the government.

Despite an economy in a long-term slump and a ballooning trade deficit due to increased energy imports, Japan has stepped up diplomatic efforts to secure energy cooperation while its utilities also eye foreign markets to boost profits.

Abe’s ongoing tour of Latin American countries is an affirmation of that resolve with energy deals being centre-stage of the visit.

His visit to Mexico especially holds much import for both countries. Having recently revamped the laws governing its ailing national oil company PEMEX, Mexico has opened up oil and gas projects for foreign partnership and investments.

Japan is only too eager to make strategic investments in the oil and shale plays Mexico is planning to bring under development.

Areas of particular focus would be the deep water offshore fields such as the Perdido area near the Texas border, which is estimated to hold about 150 to 200 million barrels of oil.

According to reports, the energy cooperation, worth about $US9.8 ($A10.4) billion, would involve developing gas fields, long-term pipelines to the west coast from the Gulf of Mexico and liquefaction facilities, with LNG exports likely by mid-2020s.

That strategy to export from the west coast would considerably reducing shipping costs by removing the need to pass through the Panama Canal.

Abe’s visit also includes trips to Chile, Brazil and Colombia. While Brazil is already Japan’s largest trading partner in the South America, Abe’s visit to Colombia will likely lead to major investment commitments in coal and oil projects.

Japan has already reaffirmed access to public financing for overseas coal projects in developing countries with the move designed to encourage the use of Japanese equipment. Japan usually supports overseas coal projects worth around $US4 billion.

Even as its backing for overseas coal projects has earned the displeasure of the US, which is seeking to limit financing for coal projects in an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions, Japan has also sought to soft-pedal the diplomatic efforts to censure Russia in the standoff in Ukraine following the shooting down of the Malaysian passenger plane.

Analysts point out that at the heart of Japan’s stance is its energy security interests amid Russia’s plans to double oil and gas exports to Asia in the next 20 years.