Japan seeks new oil routes around Hormuz
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TOKYO – Japan is seeking new oil routes around the Strait of Hormuz in response to the Iran conflict, aiming to bolster energy security, according to local media reports. Prior to the conflict in February, Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, had become highly dependent on oil imports passing through the critical strait. The Nikkei daily newspaper reported that Japan intends to assist Saudi Arabia and other nations in expanding or constructing crude oil pipelines that circumvent the strait.
Japan has already utilized its oil reserves to mitigate supply issues, and has increased crude imports from countries such as the United States. Additional measures to be discussed during an upcoming government meeting include the establishment of a dedicated crude reserve for producing naphtha, an oil by-product utilized across various industries.
Furthermore, the government is anticipated to advocate for increased utilization of nuclear power and provide support for the development of next-generation perovskite solar cells, as reported by NHK.
The push for nuclear energy comes fifteen years after the Fukushima disaster, with Japan seeking to revitalize its nuclear sector, partly to address rising electricity demand driven by AI and data centers.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
