Japan looks to alternative sources to secure stable oil imports, including Central Asia
Japan is set to obtain more than 70 percent of its crude oil imports for June from sources outside the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Tuesday as the country seeks to diversify its energy supply, Qazinform News Agency cites Jiji Press.
During a meeting with relevant ministers, Takaichi instructed Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa to continue efforts aimed at increasing the share of oil procured from alternative suppliers in July.
The Prime Minister said that, given the progress in securing diversified energy sources, the government will not carry out any additional releases from the nation’s strategic oil reserves this month.
For June, Japan plans to import crude oil from regions including Africa, alongside supplies from the United States, Latin America, and Central Asia.
Separately, the Japanese government will begin accepting requests from medical institutions starting Monday for the planned distribution of 5,000 government-stockpiled medical gloves, a measure that was announced last month.
Earlier, it was reported Japan secures a commitment from the UAE to bolster joint oil stockpiles.