On Oct 14, Osaka Gas Co Ltd announced that its e-methane production demonstration facility "Bakeru LABO," exhibited at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, was selected for the "Sustainable Initiatives Award (Decarbonization Category)" conducted by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition. "Bakeru LABO" contributed to the event's carbon neutrality by artificially producing methane using CO2 generated within the Expo grounds. It also entertained many visitors through its exhibition methods utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology. Osaka Gas stated, "Amid many companies working on decarbonization, the award for our experiment adds prestige to our future research and enhances our appeal overseas."

"Bakeru LABO" will be dismantled along with the closing of the Expo but Osaka Gas hopes to make use of its know-how obtained from the experience at the Expo for another experiment in Nagaoka city in Niigata prefecture where Osaka Gas is scheduled to begin an experiment to expand the production volume of e-methane with INPEX within this fiscal year. Osaka Gas is also expected to introduce its initiatives at "Bakeru LABO" at an international conference "Rim Energy Agora" held at the Tokyo International Forum on Nov 11-12 by Rim Intelligence Co.