Petroleum &LP Gas StockpilingJapan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation
http//:www.jogmec.go.jp/

For inquiries in relation to this pamphlet, please contact:
Planning Division, Stockpile Planning Department☎03-6758-8033

■Name:Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)■Representative:

Tetsuhiro Hosono (Chairman & CEO)

■Equity Capital:

921 billion yen (as of September 2018)■Number of employees: 609 (as of July 2018)■History:■About us:■Mission:■Head Oﬃce:

Taking over the operations of the former Japan National Oil Corporation and the Metal
Mining Agency of Japan, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) wasestablished on February 29, 2004, as an incorporated administrative agency that now
assumes all respective roles.
In September 2012, JOGMEC took over the coal and geothermal resources development
operations of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In
April 2013, JOGMEC took on all transitional functions related to the coal mining industry
from NEDO.
JOGMEC is a governmental organization that collaborates with governmental agencies andcompanies both at home and abroad with a view to secure stable supplies of natural
resources and energy for Japan, while contributing to the development of resources andenergy business worldwide as the duty of a large energy-consuming nation.
To contribute to dynamic development of natural resources and energy, JOGMEC s mainareas of responsibility are deﬁned as oil and natural gas, metals, coal, and geothermal.
JOGMEC joins hands with Japanese private companies in each of these areas at various
phases of projects through geological surveys, technological development, ﬁnancial
support, stockpiling, environmental protection, and gathering and provision of information,
to name just a few. International cooperation and collaboration is also at the forefront of
JOGMEC s activities, which are designed to contribute to the stable supply of natural
resources and energy, indispensable for the national livelihoods.

■03

About JOGMEC Stockpile Unit

■05

Need for Petroleum and LP Gas Stockpiling■07

Petroleum and LP Gas Stockpiling in Japan■09

National Petroleum/LP Gas Stockpiling Base

■11

Emergency Responses■13

Collaboration with the International Community■15

Safety & Measures and Environmental Protection at
National Petroleum/LP Gas Stockpiling Bases■17

Survey, Research, and Technological Development/
Existing Alongside Local Communities■18

Encouraging Familiarity with Stockpiling

Toranomon Twin Building 2-10-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-6758-8000 / Fax: +81-3-6758-8008

01

INDEX

02

About JOGMEC Stockpile Unit
■Organization
・Chairman & CEO
・President
・Executive Vice
President

Auditors

Auditors
Oﬃce

Management
Division

Tomakomai-Tobu Site Management Oﬃce

Oil & Gas
UpstreamBusiness Unit

Kuji Site Management Oﬃce

Mutsu-Ogawara Site Management Oﬃce

Akita Site Management Oﬃce

Oil & Gas
UpstreamTechnology Unit

Fukui Site Management Oﬃce

Metals Strategy &Exploration Unit
Stockpile Unit
Metals & Coal
Finance andEnvironment Unit

Stockpile Planning
Department
Petroleum & LPG
Stockpile Management
Department
Safety, Environment &Engineering
Department
Rare Metals
Stockpile Department

Geothermal Unit

Kikuma Site Management Oﬃce

Under a contract with the Japanese government, JOGMEC is engaged in the overallmanagement of national stockpiling. The operations of national stockpiling bases are
implemented by private enterprises, which are outsourced by JOGMEC.
To assure stable supply of petroleum and LP gas, JOGMEC takes advantage of its
knowledge and technological strengths in relation to petroleum and LP gas in an
organized and integrated manner, and it eﬃciently and eﬀectively carries out said
operations in accordance with its mid-term plan. The actual status of achievements ineach ﬁscal plan against the mid-term plan is evaluated by a competent minister on anannual basis, with reviews conducted comprehensively, which include the necessity ofcontinuing operations.

Shirashima Site Management Oﬃce

Overview of the Fourth Mid-term Plan (FY2018‒FY2022)

Kamigotou Site Management Oﬃce
Kushikino Site Management Oﬃce
Shibushi Site Management Oﬃce
Kamisu Site Management Oﬃce
Nanao Site Management Oﬃce
Kurashiki Site Management Oﬃce

1

■ Carry out 10 or more improvements pertaining to safe operations andeﬃcient management (key targets).

Ensuring safety control
and eﬃcientmanagement of
petroleum and LP gas

Namikata Site Management Oﬃce
Fukushima Site Management Oﬃce

Overview of petroleum/LP gas stockpiling

Integrated managementof national stockpiling

Support private-sector
stockpiling

Cooperation withinternational
community

Maintenance of national
stockpiling system with
eﬃciency and readiness

Environmental improvements forsupporting private stockpilingenterprises that hold mandatory
stockpiles for 70 days' worth ofpetroleum and 40 days' worth of
LP gasInternational cooperation
pertaining to petroleum
stockpiling and theenhancement of collaboration
with overseas stockpilingorganizations■ Providing ﬁnancial suppor t to private■ Collection and provision of information■ Proper maintenance and management ofstockpiled petroleum and LP gas quality■Safety management of national stockpilingstockpiling enterprises that are required
to hold mandatory stockpiles to purchasepetroleum and LP gas■Surveys and proposals for the utilization■ Capit al inve s tm ent an d loans to joint

bases

of private tanks■ Research and technology development■ Management of the consigned operational

stockpiling companies for maintenance of
their bases

regarding petroleum stockpiling■E xchange information with otherinternational oil stockpiling organization■ Dispatch oil stockpiling specialists■ Accept international visitors to national

2■ Establish a "mid- and long-term maintenance plan" so as to avoid risks

and to conduct construction work eﬃciently within restricted limited
budgets.
■Study and introduce new IT technologies, etc.
■Eliminate "serious accidents" and prevent accidents.
■ Contribute to the further-eﬀective and eﬃcient management of thenational stockpiling system through studies of the eﬀective use ofnational petroleum stockpiling and base facilities and make proactive
policy proposals to the Japanese government.

■ Ensure eﬃcient and eﬀective emergency release exercises andImprovements to supply
systems at times of
emergency

3International
cooperation pertaining
to petroleum and LP
gas stockpilingconﬁrm emergency release capabilities through these exercises by athird party evaluations (key targets).
■ Implement these exercises of petroleum and LP gas at 10 or morebases in total on annual average.
■ Ensure proper quality control of national petroleum stockpiling duringordinary times (range of variations of API degree by oil types to be kept
within ‒/+0.5 on average for all bases compared to the previous year).
■ Participate in coordinated petroleum supply training at times ofdisaster and coordinated LP gas supply training at times of disaster at
least twice a year.

■Conduct bilateral cooperation pertaining to petroleum and LP gas
stockpiling at least four times a year.
■ Host trainings for multilateral cooperation with Asian countries at least
twice a year
■ Acquire opportunities for dispatching lecturers, with Asian countries atleast once a year.
■ Conduct trend surveys of international stockpiling organizations
through participation in annual meetings, by IEA member countries, etc.
■ Collect, research, and analyze information on countries overseas
taking advantage of technological and professional knowledge andexperience, in addition to submitting reports at least four times a year,
on average.

stockpiling bases

facilities of national stockpiling bases■ Preparation for emergency response

release, etc.

03

04

Need for Petroleum and LP Gas Stockpiling■What is energy?

Primary energy supply sources in Japan (FY2016)

There are various energy resources on the Earth.
Energy is a driving force in people's lives and in theeconomies of countries, with Japan being the ﬁfth largest
energy-consuming country, following China, the U.S.,
India, and Russia (source: BP Statistical Review of World
Energy 2018). Securing stable energy supply is a crucially
important issue for every country.

Hydro power: 3.3%

Nuclear power: 0.8%

Reusable/
non-exploitedenergy: 7.0%

Petroleum:
37.0%

Natural gas:
23.8%

Coal:
25.4%
Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ,Energy Demand Record (2016FY)

LPG: 2.7%■About Petroleum
Petroleum accounts for the highest primary energy supply (approximately 37.0%) in Japan. Petroleum is used for
applications such as fuel for automobiles, heat sources for plants and households, and raw materials for syntheticﬁbers, plastics, and other chemical products. Petroleum is indispensable for people's lives and for Japan's national
economy. Currently, 99.4% of all of Japan's petroleum is imported.
Petroleum product demand (FY2016)

Petroleum import source regions (FY2017)

Agriculture, forestry, and ﬁsheries: 2.2%
Aviation fuel: 2.6%

City gas: 0.9%

Latin America: 2.5%

Others: 2.7%

Europe: 5.3%

Iron Industry: 8.1%

Households/
commercial:
13.2%

It is said that the price and supply of petroleum is very susceptible to the inﬂuence of international politics andeconomics, in direct contrast to other international commodities. The ﬁrst oil shock occurred in the autumn of 1973
due to an embargo by Middle Eastern oil-producing countries, as a result of war in the Middle East.
Since that time, international political situations have aﬀected the supply of petroleum, such as during the Gulf
War in 1990, the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the Iraq war in 2003, and the issue of Iran's nuclear
program.
For LP gas, Japan fully depends on imports, except the supply from domestic reﬁneries. For this reason, when the
supply from gas-producing countries is suspended, as was the case of the Gulf War in 1990, there is always a riskof it very substantially aﬀecting the Japanese economy.
As Japan imports almost all petroleum and LP gas from overseas, uncertainty about petroleum and LP gas
procurement remains high, due to destabilization in Middle Eastern countries. To secure a stable supply of
petroleum and LP gas and to protect life in Japan and the economy, the stockpiling of resources as energy security
is necessary.

Dependence on imports of petroleum and dependence on the Middle East for crude oil import (2017)

Southeast Asia: 2.2%

Transportation/ships: 2.0%

Electricity: 4.9%

■Petroleum/LP Gas and Recent Global Dynamics

Automobiles:
42.0%

Middle East:
87.3%

Raw materials
for chemicals:

24.1%

Source: Petroleum Association of Japan

Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Natural Resources and Energy Statistics

Japan

U.S.

Germany

U.K.

FranceSouth Korea

Dependence on
imports of petroleum

99.4%

23.5%

94.0%

32.3%

94.1%

98.9%

Dependence on
the Middle East for
crude oil imports

87.2%

21.8%

7.3%

3.9%

24.6%

81.6%

Source: IEA Statistics Oil Information 2018

Dependence on imports of LP gas (FY2016)■About LP Gas
Liqueﬁed petroleum gas, also known as "LP gas" or "LPG," accounts for approximately 2.7% of the primaryenergy supply in Japan. It is widely used for households and automobiles in a manner closely related to everyday
life. It is a very important energy source for people's lives and the national economy.
In addition, in spite of its importance, LP gas is often in forms of use that are diﬃcult to be immediately replacedwith other raw materials or fuels and is an energy source for which a stable supply is especially required.
LP gas demand (FY2017, estimated)
Electricity

Automobiles: 6.7％

(Power generation): 1.1％

Dependence on
imports of LP gas

Japan

Germany

France

China

India

South Korea

75.2%

18.1%

60.9%

27.4%

46.1%

70.5%

Source: World LP Gas Association, Statistical Review of Global LPG 2017

LP gas import source countries/regions (FY2017)
East Timor: 1.4％

Algeria: 0.4％

Australia: 3.1％

City gas: 7.6％

Chemical materials:
18.5％

MiddleEast:
39.3％

Households
andCommercial:
44.4％

U.S.:
55.7％

Industry:
21.7％
Source: Japan LP Gas Association

05

06

Petroleum and LP Gas Stockpiling in Japan■About Petroleum Stockpiling■About LP Gas Stockpiling

Petroleum stockpiling in Japan is performed in three diﬀerent ways. First, there is national petroleum stockpiling,which is directly handled by the Japanese government. Second, there is private sector petroleum stockpiling, whichaccording to the law must be performed by private oil companies. Third, there are stockpiles held jointly incollaboration with oil-producing nations.

LP gas stockpiling in Japan is performed in two ways: national LP gas stockpiling, which is run directly by theJapanese government, and private sector LP gas stockpiling, which is run by private companies, etc.

Under the Japanese national petroleum
stockpiling scheme, approximately 49 million kl
of crude oil and petroleum products are stored
at 10 national petroleum stockpiling bases andtanks leased from the private oil companies
a c r o s s J a p a n . U n d e r t h e p r i va t e s e c t o r
petroleum stockpiling scheme, approximately
29 million kl of crude oil and petroleum
products are stored by private oil companies inaccordance with their obligations to stockpile
petroleum under the law.

National petroleum
stockpiling
Petroleumstockpiling

National petroleum
stockpiling base (10 bases)
National stockpiling in tanks
leased from private oil companies

Private sector
petroleum stockpiling

Private sector stockpiling

Stockpiles held
jointly with
oil-producing nations

Inventory in tanks
loaned to oil-producing nations

Under the joint stockpiling program with oil-producing nations, private sector tanks in Japan are loaned to nationaloil companies of oil-producing nations with governmental support, and those companies use them as transfer andstockpile bases for East Asia. The program is designed to prioritize a supply of inventory from those tanks to Japan in
the event of concerns about a shortage of crude oil supplies for those supporting petroleum stockpiles for Japan, with
about 2.2 million kl of petroleum being stored.
Together, national petroleum stockpiling, private sector petroleum stockpiling, and stockpiles held jointly with
oil-producing nations total approximately 80.3 million kl (converted to products, this amounts to about 215 days worthof domestic consumption, as of the end of March 2018), representing a joint asset of the Japanese people, and in theevent where petroleum imports become disrupted, petroleum stocks is released to ensure stable supply.

National LP gas
stockpiling

National LP gas stockpilingbase (5 bases)

Private sector LP gas
Stockpiling

Private sector stockpiling

LP Gas stockpiling

For national LP gas stockpiling, based on the Report of the Petroleum Council's LP Gas Subcommittee of June
1992, a policy was enacted to newly establish a national stockpiling scheme, in addition to LP gas stored by private
sector stockpiling, and to increase the amount of stockpiling across Japan to about 90 days worth.
Based on this policy, the Japanese government decided to build national LP gas stockpiling bases at ﬁve
locations in Japan (Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture; Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture; Kurashiki City, Okayama
Prefecture; Namikata Town, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture; and Fukushima Town, Matsuura City, Nagasaki
Prefecture.) The Nanao Base was completed in July 2005, followed by the Fukushima Base in September and theKamisu Base in December of the same year. The Kurashiki Base and the Namikata Base were completed in March
2013, starting operations respectively.
With the acceptance of gas to the Kurashiki Base in 2017, the national stockpiling target equivalent to about 50
days worth of imports (about 1.4 million tons) was achieved, and together with about 40 days worth of private
sector stockpiling, which by law must be performed by private LP gas companies, an LP gas stockpiling scheme ofabout 90 days worth of imports was completed.

Transition of LP gas stockpiling, stockpiling days and policy in Japan(Unit: Tons, millions)(Figures in graphs show stockpiling days)

3.0

Transition of petroleum stockpiling, stockpiling days (converted to products) and policy in Japan(Unit: kl, millions)(Figures in graphs show stockpiling days)

100■Private sector stockpiling■National stockpiling■Stockpiles held jointly with oil-producing nations

80

60

7

7

10

17
20

26

31 35 44 48

2

53

55 54

57 63 69 76 76

78 82 8584

85 89 91

88 92 90 95

99 102

115

114

113

102 110117 1224

6

126 13185

81

93 94 97 92 94 92 94 89 88

80 77 76 81 74 79 80 79
72 78 77 78 74 74 78 80 77 81
84

0.5

National
stockpiling・Second oil crisis (1978)

・National stockpiling starts in Japan (1978)

Private sector
stockpiling

Major events

Stockpiling policy
・Establishment of the IEA (1974)

・90-day stockpiling plan starts (1974)

・Establishment of Japan National
Oil Corporation (1978)

・Gulf War(1990‒1991)

・Reached 30
million kl inventory(1989)

・Reduction of the・60-day stockpiling plan starts (1972) ・90-day stockpilingtarget achieved
stockpiling obligations(1981)(1991, from 82 to 78
・Oil Stockpiling Act enforced (1976)
days)
・Step-by-step・Decreased applications for standard
reduction of the・70-day stockpilingstockpiling amounts designated tostockpiling obligations obligation plan (sinceindividual companies acceptedsince 1989
1993)
(March 1979‒August 1980)

80

33

37

81

82

83

50

84

56

58

85

86

62

87

62

88

・War in Iraq (2003)
・U.S. hurricane damage (2005)
・Occurrence of turmoil in the petroleum supply
due to the situation in Libya, etc. (2011)
・Great East Japan Earthquake (2011)
・Reached 50 million kl inventory (1998)
・National stockpiling in Japan falls under

the direct control of the Japanese
government (2003)
・National stockpiling of petroleum productstarts in Japan (2009)
・Reduction of the stockpiling obligations(September 2005 to January 2006, from70 to 67 days)
・Reduction of the obligations (March to May
2011, from 70 to 45 days)
・Reduction of the stockpiling obligations(June to December 2011, from 70 to 67
days)

11

68

89

61

90

61

91

92

57

93

64

94

59

95

62

96

60

97

61

98

55

99

60

00

68
62

01

02

56

03

58

04

67

05

59

06

19
19

60

07

20
22

22

20

63

08

57

60

09

10

56

11

58

12

27

32

41

62

62

62

13

14

15

49

50

55

54

16

17
(Fiscal year)

Source: Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

83 83
79 84
80 81
78 79

72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17（Fiscal year）

・First oil crisis (1973)

42

Stockpiling policy
Major events

68 71

Source: Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

07

1.0

National stockpiling

56

62

Private sector stockpiling

0

52

90

6

2.0

0.0
88 90 101

■Private sector stockpiling

1.5
4

40

20

■National stockpiling
2.5

・Second oil crisis (1978)

・Gulf War (1990‒1991)

・War in Iraq (2003)
・U.S. hurricane damage (2005)
・Occurrence of turmoil in the petroleum supply
due to the situation in Libya, etc. (2011)
・Great East Japan Earthquake (2011)

・Governmental committee
recommended the establishmentof a national stockpile system

・Nanao, Fukushima, and Kamisu Base completed (2005)
・National LP gas stockpiling released as a response ofGreat East Japan Earthquake (2011)
・Kurashiki and Namikata Base completed (2013)
・50 days' worth of national stockpiling achieved, with a
9 0 - d ay s c h e m e e s t a b l i s h e d v i a p r i va t e s e c t o r
stockpiling (2017)

・Proposal of 50-day stockpiling by
the Petroleum Council's LP Gas
Subcommittee (1980)
・Accumulation started with 10 days'
worth of imports (1980)
・Oil Stockpiling Act amended (LP gas
added as a subject of stockpiling)(1981)
・50 days worth of stockpilingachieved (1988)

・Based on the amended Oil Stockpiling Act, daysof stockpiling obligations reduced to 40 days(2017)

08

National Petroleum/LP Gas Stockpiling Base■Petroleum Stockpiling Tanks
National petroleum stockpiling bases adopt four stockpiling systems: on-ground, underground rock cavern,
in-ground, and ﬂoating tank systems.
On-ground tank

Akita National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Mutsu-Ogawara National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

Extension
ladderWind gutter

Roof sealing

Underground rock caverntank system
Floating tankOn-ground low-temperaturetank system

ManholeBottom lining

Underground rock caverntank system

LadderNanao National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Akita National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

Ishikawa

Akita

About 250,000 tons

About 4.5 million kl

Tomakomai-Tobu National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

Air foam chamber
Side wallconcrete

Double-deck
ﬂoating roof
Floating roof
support pillar

Floating
roof seal

Iwate

MixingdeviceAbout 1.75 million kl

Okayama

Dispensing pump
Bottom-drawn
pump

Shirashima National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

Kamisu National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Fukuoka

About 200,000 tons

Ibaraki

About 5.6 million kl

Support pipes forwater pumps, etc.

Water drainage layer
under bottom plate
Bottom plate
Side wall lining
concretesteel plate

Ground water lifting pump

About 450,000 tons
Kikuma National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Water-curtain borehole
Inert gas

Plug

Oil
surface
Crude oilSteelpicketRain discharge
pumpRock cavern tank

Crude oil
Water bed

Inﬂow ofgroundwater

Seepage water pump

(Underground rockcavern tank Bases):Kuji, Kikuma, andKushikino

Floating tankThis involves installingthe majority of tanks
underground. Thismethod entails a lower
risk of above-groundoil spilling and diﬀusion,
while also being highly
earthquake resistant.
Tanks can be spaced
closer together for
more-eﬀective land
utilization.
Tank circumferencesand depth can beenlarged, providing
approximately threetimes the capacity ofon-ground tanks.
(In-ground tank Bases):
Akita

Inert gas injection
FenderTo the crude oil gas treatment unit
To the sea berth

StoragevesselPrimary dike(ﬂoating type)

FenderPrimary dike(ﬂoating type)

Crude oil
Breakwater/
secondary dike

Mooring
dolphinMooring
dolphinSeawater

Breakwater/
secondary dike

※Note: Example of Shirashima Base shown

This method involves installation on water for eﬀective ocean space utilization.
Floating double -walled storage vessels are surrounded by primar y andsecondary dikes to protect against oil spills and diﬀusion.
The land required is limited to that needed for ancillary facilities, with a small
total area.
(Floating tank Bases): Shirashima and Kamigotou

Fukushima National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Ehime

About 1.5 million kl

Nagasaki■LP Gas Stockpiling Bases
National LP gas stockpiling bases adopt two types of stockpiling systems based on the geographicalcharacteristics of each site: an on-ground low-temperature tank and an underground rock cavern tank.

About 200,000 tons

On-ground low-temperature tank

Shibushi National Petroleum Stockpiling Base
Kagoshima

About 5 million kl

Inner tank side wall
LP gas(Vaporphase)
Outer tankside wall
Insulator
Nitrogengas

09

Rock anchor

ServicetunnelEhime

NagasakiNamikata National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Bottom plate
lining steel
plate
Bottomplate

Landﬁll/earth-ﬁll layer

Oil out
Water drainage

This involves storing
petroleum in caverns
excavated in bedrock.
This method entails alower risk of oil spills
and diﬀusion, and is alsoless vulnerable toearthquakes, lightning,and other natural
disasters. The land
required is limited tothat needed forancillary facilities, witha small total area.

Namikata National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Kamigotou National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

About 1.75 million kl

Side wall

Floating roof
drainage unit

About 400,000 tons

Kagoshima

Protective tube

Initial ﬁre extinguisher facilities

Kuji National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Kurashiki National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Ground water level

Fire-resistantwall

Oil inWater-curtain tunnel

Crude oil unloading pumpSupporting pipes

About 5.7 million kl

About 3.4 million kl(Bedrock)(Upper vertical pile
section)

Water
bed

RC ring

Mutsu-Ogawara National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Fukui

(On-ground tank Bases):
Tomakomai-Tobu,
Mutsu-Ogawara, Fukui,
and Shibushi(Weathering rock)Rainwater
seal

About 6.4 million kl

Aomori

Method most widelyused at national
petroleum stockpilingbases in Japan
This is the mostcommonly used type of
petroleum storage tank,with a proven trackrecord that ensuressafety.

In-ground tank

Hokkaido

Fukui National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Kushikino National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

Floating
roof piping

Annular plate

Note: Figures shown below are the capacities of each base.

About 4.4 million kl

Stiﬀener ring

National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

On & in-ground tank systems

Gauge pole

Floating roof

Floating roof
water outfall
Roof support

National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Measurement
shack

Rock layer

Kuji National Petroleum Stockpiling Base

Air foamchamberWind dispersion
plate

Underground rock cavern tank

Kamisu National LP Gas Stockpiling Base

Shirashima National Petroleum
Stockpiling Base

LP gas(Liquidphase)

Refrigerated LP gas isstored at low temperature
and at normal pressure ina double-shelledcylindrical tank with a ﬂatbottom.
A double-hull tank consistof between the inner tankmade of low temperature
resistant steel and outertank made of steel. The
space between inner andouter tanks is ﬁlled withinsulator and nitrogen
This is a common storage
method generally used at
LPgas import bases.
(On-groundlow-temperature tank
Bases): Kamisu, Nanao,
and Fukushima

Underground rock cavern tankRock cavern tank⬆
LP gas(vapor phase)

Groundwater

LP gas(liquid phase)
Water bed⬇

Groundwater

LP gas of normal
temperature is sealed bygroundwater pressure.
The tank is set deep
underground withgroundwater pressure
slightly higher than LP gas,
and water is supplied to therock cavern from thewater-curtain tunnel andwater-curtain boring in orderto stabilize undergroundwater pressure.
Structure to prevent leakageof LP gas, as groundwaterpressure is higher than LP
gas pressure.
(Underground rock caverntank Bases): Kurashiki andNamikata

10

Emergency Responses■Petroleum emergency release scheme■Emergency Release Exercise

In the event of crude oil supply shortage or possibility of shortage, it is necessary to quikly respond with aﬂexible and adequate combination of demand controls and the release of petroleum stocks. In order to stabilize
supplies, cooperation and coordination with the IEA is needed to be taken into consideration based on supply
reduction levels, the expected duration of any shortage, and domestic supply and demand trends. This will prevent
any social or economic upheaval.
As any such response will depend on the type of emergency involved, it is necessary to be ﬂexible in order totailor countermeasures to the situation at hand. Described below is a sample of a simpliﬁed schematic ﬂow of an
emergency response.

Since the founding of the former Japan National Oil Corporation, we have been conducting emergency release
exercises in conditions comparable to potential emergency scenarios by the following: mooring tankers at anational petroleum stockpiling base, performing the loading and unloading of petroleum, and building a response
system that enables the prompt and smooth release of petroleum stocks.
Since 1997, we have been practicing new alternative training methods that complement previous emergency
release exercises and that do not involve mooring tankers, in order to improve loading and unloading techniques.
Emergency release exercises are also conducted to properly train employees to prepare for any emergency andto maintain the safety of work conditions through the inspection of stockpiling facilities in order to prevent any
leakages of stockpiling petroleum and LP gas, and accidents at workplaces. These exercises also help increase thegeneral awareness of stockpiling and emergency releases among local residents and the energy community.

Actions by regulatory methods

Actions that utilize market functions

・Major supply disruption situation・Based on the Oil Stockpiling Act①Preparations for the release of private stockpiling(by reducing the standard number of days of private
sector stockpiling obligations)②Preparations for the release of national stockpiling(crude oil, petroleum products, and LP gas)
・Review of actions under laws and regulations

・Supply shortage situation
・Possibility of the release of stockpiled petroleum
through international cooperation with the IEA

Release of petroleum stocks(If the petroleum stockpile becomes shorter than the 90 days worth of reserves as requested by the IEA, prompt recovery is to be implemented.)

Actions to guarantee supply in addition to stockpile releases
・Approaches to oil-producing nations to increase oil
production
・Providing and collecting information on production,
imports, and inventory
・Requests to refrain from excessive stockpiling・Devise petroleum supply goals based on the Petroleum Supply
and Demand Adjustment Act and ﬁle plans for petroleum production, imports, and sales in addition to amendment instructions.
・(Perform a review when there is still a signiﬁcant supply
disruption situation after stockpile releases.)
・Act on Emergency Measures against Acts of Buying Up or Holding
Back Sales of Goods Related to Everyday Life (designation ofmaterials, price trends, and supply & demand)

Instruction to start release exercise

Progress check meeting in exercise

Connecting a loading arm

Securing mooring rope

■Emergency Release of LP Gas During the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011)
When the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) struck, LP Gas unloading became unavailable, due to damage topiers. The Kamisu National LP Gas Stockpiling Base released based on exchanging LP gas stocks for the ﬁrst time in
the history of national stockpiling. Taking this as a cue, the Oil Stockpiling Act was amended in September 2012,enabling the release of national petroleum stocks, etc., at times of supply shortage caused by a disaster, in addition
to import supply disruption.
In addition, it was decided to increase the ratio of petroleum products to be used more smoothly in the national
stockpiling, mostly storing crude oil. At the same time, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy played a pivotal
role in establishing a plan for petroleum and LP gas supply coordination at times of disaster.
By setting up such a ﬂow, it is now possible to respond to emergencies more promptly.

▶Flow of ﬁrst release of national LP gas stocks① 40,000 tons of LP gas
transferred via piping(release)
National tank

Private tanks

Kamisu National LP Gas
Stockpiling Base

Kashima L.P.G. Joint
Stockpiling Co., Ltd.

② 40,000 tons of LP gas
returned 41 days later11

A total of 40,000 tonsof LP gas was released
to private tanks for fourdays starting on April 4,
2011.

40,000 tons is equivalent to a total capacityof 5,000 (eight-ton) tank trucks.
12Collaboration with the International Community■Collaboration with the IEA■International Cooperation

The International Energy Agency (IEA) was founded in 1974 following the ﬁrst oil crisis, as an aﬃliate to theOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), so as to respond to physical disruptions in the
supply of petroleum. This organization regularly holds governing board meetings and energy expert meetings. It
works on various topics of security pertaining to total energy issues, which include emergency measures on
petroleum supply disruptions and studies involving energy conservation.

◆Periodic consultation with the U.S. and South Korea

Objective/
Activities

regular consultations (management meetings, technological working groups, and international cooperation
working groups) are held in Japan and South Korea alternately every year.

・Members must be member countries of the OECD.
・Members must maintain emergency petroleum stockpiling equivalent to at least 90 days
worth of its net petroleum imports from the previous year.
・To establish energy security, particularly in relation to petroleum, across all member
countries
・To establish a stable structure for medium- and long-term energy supply & demand
・To cooperate with other countries in reducing dependency on petroleum imports, throughenergy conservation methods and the development of alternative energy resources
・To analyze international energy supply & demand trends, etc.

◆How the IEA is signiﬁcant for JapanD u rin g e m e rge n cie s , s u c h a s w h e npetroleum supplies stop or are likely tostop, IEA member countries cooperate andrelease reserves to prevent or ameliorate
panic in the markets at the early stages ofan emergency.
By maintaining petroleum stocks as an
IEA member, Japan contributes to energy
security domestically and around the world
by taking cooperative action with other IEA
members when petroleum supplies are
stopped.
The IEA strengthens relationships withIEA association countries where petroleum
demand is on the increase, and, with theJapanese government, JOGMEC addresses
i nte r n at i o n a l c o o p e rat i o n to p ro m ote
resource stockpiling operations.

National stockpiling

Agency stockpiling◆Training for National Oil Reserve Center (NORC), China
We accept NORC staﬀ members in charge of national petroleum
stockpiling and on-site managers of China's national petroleum
stockpiling bases as trainees in our conduct of Training for Operationand Management of Oil Stockpile Site in Japan" During training, weshare knowledge and technology in relation to petroleum stockpiling, inaddition to operational and management techniques of petroleum
stockpiling bases, while assisting with China's petroleum stockpilingenhancement.

◆Information collection on stockpiling by IEA members and

IEA association members

Estonia

Germany

Belgium

Czech RepublicHungary

Austria

New Zealand

U.S.

Japan

PolandSouth Korea

Italy

Denmark

Holland
Ireland

Portugal

FinlandSpain

FranceNorwaySwedenU.K.

Australia

Slovakia

Luxembourg

GreeceSwitzerland

TurkeyPrivate sector stockpiling

Petroleum stockpiling systems of major IEA members
National
stockpilingsystem・This is a system where government taxes are used, directly by the government or through stockpilingorganizations, so as to own, operate, and maintain petroleum stockpiling bases and petroleum stocks.
・By releasing stockpiled petroleum based on a government's judgment, it is possible to steadily increase
supplies to the crude oil market.

Agencystockpilingsystem・This is a system whereby a public stockpiling agency established by law implements stockpiling.
・Agencies roles and legal positions diﬀer on a country-by-country basis depending on the market
structure and government policy, to some extent.

・This is a system whereby certain private companies are required by law to stockpile a speciﬁed
Private sector amount of petroleum using their own facilities and at their own expense.
stockpiling ・A large percentage of private-sector stockpiles are stored in the production and distribution stages ofsystem
reﬁneries and oil terminals, and thus crude oil may be quickly delivered to consumers in response to
need.

13

Energy (DOE/SPR), and this takes place alternately in Japan and in the U.S. for the purpose of thetechnological exchanges of opinions in relation to petroleum stockpiling policies, international cooperation,and the operations of petroleum stockpiling bases.

South Korea: Under a strategic alliance agreement (SAA) concluded with Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC),

Overview of the IEA
Membership
terms

U.S.: Annual, regular consultation is held with the Oﬃce of Strategic Petroleum Reserve of the U.S. Department ofThrough participation in Annual Coordinating Meeting of Entity
Stockholders (ACOMES) annual meetings and working groups and in
IEA meetings, we collect information from individual countries, thereby
contributing to the most-eﬃcient operation of our petroleum stockpiling.

■Support for Establishing Petroleum Stockpiling Systems in ASEAN Countries
As the joint secretariat of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) since2008, we started to plan an ASEAN+3 Oil Stockpiling Roadmap(OSRM). In 2010, at the ASEAN+3 Energy Minister Meeting, the OSRM
was approved. We cooperate with and promote the improvement of
petroleum stockpiling systems in ASEAN countries in a number ofdiverse ways.

◆The Oil Capacity Building Program on Energy Security
for ASEAN
Through this training, we invite policymakers for stockpiling programsfrom ASE AN countries, to which we share JOGMEC stockpiling
operation experience & knowledge and human resource development.
We extend support to promote materialization of stockpiling programs ineach country, thereby contributing to establishing connections andstrengthening networks with people in charge of stockpiling policies.

◆Needs surveys
We conduct needs surveys toward the establishment of petroleum
stockpiling systems in individual countries, and we make proposals
based on the knowledge and experience of Japan's petroleum
stockpiling.

14

Safety & Measures and Environmental Protection at

National Petroleum/LP Gas Stockpiling Bases■Safety and Measures❸Disaster exercises

The safe operations of national stockpiling facilities can only be achieved when such facilities are properly
constructed and responsibly managed. Therefore, petroleum and LP gas stockpiling must comply with a number oflaws and regulations, including the Fire Service Act, the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, and the Act on Disaster Prevention in
Petroleum Industrial Complexes and Other Petroleum Facilities. Comprehensive safety and disaster prevention plans arealso necessary, along with ensuring that all stockpiling facilities are operated in the most-vigilant manner.

We perform regular disaster exercises at all bases throughout the year, along with disaster exercises held incooperation with national and regional governments, local ﬁre departments, and the Japan Coast Guard. We
constantly aim to improve disaster prevention techniques by attending training courses at specialist organizationsin Japan and overseas, including ﬁreﬁghting and marine oil spill response exercises.

❶Supervision systems
Individual facilities and equipment are earthquake-proof and ﬁre-proof. In addition, monitoring devices such as ﬁredetectors and oil-spill detectors are installed at all facilities in order to detect any accident at an early stage and toeﬀect appropriate prompt response. Additionally, routine patrols around facilities are conducted on a regular basis.

General disaster exercise: Tank cooling training

Fireﬁghting drill■Engagement in Environmental Protection

Monitoring operations from control room

Safety patrols❷Facilities and equipment
In order to prepare against a disaster such as a ﬁre or oil leakage, oil weirs, eﬄuent oil blocking embankment,
and ﬁre extinguisher facilities are in place. Fully trained disaster prevention personnel from a self-defensive
organization for disaster prevention are on-call at all times. In addition, large-capacity ﬁre foam water cannons,large chemical squirts, large chemical ﬁre engines, large squirts, and foam solution trucks, along with oil boom
extenders and oil skimming boats, are available, making our safety measures more than comprehensive.

National petroleum and LP gas stockpiling bases are equipped withextensive environmental protection facilities so as to protect thesurrounding environments.
We use low sulfur fuels content to prevent air pollution, as well as
rendering gases produced from stored crude oil harmless by crude oil gas
treatment system. Wastewater is cleaned using waste water treatment
facilities and a guard basin (discharge tank) in order to remove oil content
before discharging wastewater into the sea. In addition, greenery isplanted at stockpiling bases to promote aﬀorestation, while stockpiling
facilities are color-coordinated to ﬁt into the surrounding environments.

Air pollution monitor

Color coordination

Guard basin (discharge tank)
Oil weirs and eﬄuent oil blocking embankment that
respectively collect and prevent oil spills from tanks

15

Aﬀorestation promotion

Waste water treatment facilities

Oil fence being extended to contain an oil spill

16

Survey, Research, and Technological Development/
Existing Alongside Local Communities■Survey, Research, and Technological Development
Aiming at enhancing reliability, safety, ﬂexibility, and eﬃciency of national petroleum and LP gas stockpilingbases, along with reducing of costs associated with national stockpiling, we conduct a comprehensive range ofevaluations and reviews toward the development of stockpiling technologies, studies of positive introductions of
new IT technologies, etc., and safe and eﬃcient maintenance/management of each stockpiling base.

Encouraging Familiarity with Stockpiling

Shirashima Exhibition Center
Shirashima
Exhibition
Center●Yoshino Gypsum◆Surveys on safety and disaster prevention

To Wakita

ClosedWe maintain safe operations of bases through a wide range of developments and surveys, including thedevelopment of a soundness evaluation simulator for on-ground oil tanks against large-scale earthquakes andtsunamis, along with studies of countermeasures against the corrosion of ﬂoating oil tanks.

●Fukuoka Bank

Admission Free

●Ward Oﬃce

Wak
ato
Brid
ge
Wakamatsu Station

Energy Discovery Center Kapy PlazaTo Nama●Aokata
ShrineTsubaki Street
Residential
police box

Measurement of water content in crude oil

Bus Street
To Arikawa

Route 384

Saihi bus

Chamberof Commerceand Industry◆Surveys to promote further eﬃcient base operations■Existing Alongside Local Communities

Mondays and every fourth Tuesday.
(December 29 through January 3)●Civic hall
To Futajima◆Surveys on maintaining crude oil quality

We are engaged in developments and surveys for promoting the eﬃciency
of base operations, including studies on how to utilize robot technology(drones, etc.) for disaster monitoring/maintenance and management systems,
the development of inspection devices for weld lines on the bottom plate ofon-ground oil tanks, the optimization of painting low-temperature tanks for LP
g as , a n d th e ratio naliz atio n fo r leg al ins p e ctio ns of s haf t piping inunderground rock cavern tanks for LP gas.

1-108 Hibiki-machi, Wakamatsu-ku,
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 808-0021
Tel: +81-93-752-1460
Opening 10:00‒16:00
hours (Last admission: 15:30)

Hibikinada Bridge

Cosmos Road

With crude oil stored for a long time, increase in water content andgeneration of sediment have been conﬁrmed. An increase in water content
limits the processing of stockpiled crude oil in emergency situations, and theincrease in sediment in crude oil tanks leads to an increase in tank inspection
costs. In light of these circumstances, we are investigating the condition ofwater and sediment in long-term stockpiled crude oil, investigating the causesof water increase and sediment generation, and conducting research on
methods to reduce these.

Pier to Shirashima

Energy Discovery
Center Kapy plaza●
Post Oﬃce

Shinkamigotou-cho Oil Stockpiling Memorial
Hall, 1F, 1549-6 Aokata-go, Shinkamigotou-cho,
Minami-Matsuura-gun, Nagasaki 857-4404
Tel: +81-959-52-2500
Opening
10:00‒18:00
hours

Closed●Kamigoto-cho
Fisheries
cooperative

Tsurido River

Wednesdays(December 29 through January 3)

Admission Free

To Narao

Chikabi Exhibition Hall
Chikabi
Exhibition Hall

Guide board

Demonstration test of inspection devices
for weld lines on the bottom plates ofon-ground oil tanks

21803 Nomoto, Ichiki Kushikino-shi,
Kagoshima 896-0053
Tel: +81-996-32-4747

Kushikino National
Petroleum Stockpiling
Base
Saisatsu Industrial Park
●Ferry Shelter

National petroleum and LP gas stockpiling bases can fully exert their functions only on the basis of existingalongside local communities, placing importance on close collaboration and cooperative relationships with local
governments and other associated organizations in local communities. Furthermore, we strive to improve theunderstanding of stockpiling operations by providing explanations on the need for stockpiling and the safety
management of the bases by providing tours of such bases for members of the general public.

Kushikino
StationKushikino New Port
Gotanda River

JR
Kagoshima
Main Line

ClosedRo

City Hall●

Opening 9:00‒17:00
hours (Last admission: 16:00)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays(December 30 through January 3)u te3Admission Free

Nagasakibana Park

Moguranpia
To Hachinohe
Route 45
To Ninohe
Route 395

Children's tour of an undergroundstockpiling base

Underground
Rock Cavern Tank

Moguranpia

Kuji National
Petroleum
Stockpiling
Base

JR
Hachinohe Line

Natsui River

Opening 9:00‒18:00 (April‒October),hours 10:00‒16:00 (November‒March)

Hanzaki Fishing Port

ClosedRoute 45
Kuji Road

1-43-7 Mugio, Samuraihama-cho, Kuji-shi, Iwate 028-7801
Tel: +81-194-75-3551

Mondays (or the next work day if Monday isa public holiday), December 31, and January 1

Rikuchu-natsui Station
Kuji Bay

Kuji River

Base Tour
17

AdultsAdmission

Senior highElementary andschool andjunior highcollege students school students

Admission

￥700

￥500

￥300

Annual pass

￥1,400￥1,000

￥600

Group

￥500

￥300

￥200

Road cleaning around a base18