JCCP NEWS
Newsletter of Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum

TopicsNo. 102
November 2008
In this issue:

Message from theOutgoing Executive Director of JCCP

Mr. Mikio Kojima

TopicsMessage from the Outgoing Executive Director

Mr. Mikio Kojima

1

Executive Advisor,
Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum

Message from the Incoming Executive Director

Mr. Masataka Sase

2

H.H. Dr. Turki Al-Saud, VP of KACST,
3
Visits Japan
FY2008 JCCP Program Seminar

6

FY2008 Working Group forCountry-Specific Action Plan

9

Participation in “The 33rd Japan
Cooperation Forum for the12
Middle East”
Personnel Exchange Programs
Refinery Plant MaintenanceSeminar Held in UAE (TAKREER)

14

Participant’s Voice

16

JCCP Regular Courses Completed
June – July 2008
18
FY2009 JCCP Course Schedule

19

Technical Cooperation
Study on the Treatment andUtilization of Oilfield-produced
Water in Oman

20

Support for the Establishment of
TAKREER Research Center in UAE 21
Announcements
The 27th JCCP International
Symposium

23

The 17th Joint GCC-Japan
Environment Symposium

23

Personnel Changes

24

I retired from the position of Executive
Director of JCCP as of June 30, 2008,
and was appointed Executive Advisor,
effective July 1. I extend my deepest
gratitude to everyone inside and outside
Japan, who has given me their generous
support during the last four years as
Executive Director of JCCP.
During those years, JCCP celebrated
the 25th anniversary of its founding andmarked a new chapter in its history. Taking the occasion of thissignificant milestone, we reconfirmed the significance of JCCP’srole in today’s global society, and restructured our activities to better
fulfill our mission.
Through this process, I have reinforced my firm belief that
continuation is what makes JCCP activities so meaningful. JCCP
programs and technical cooperation programs do not aim to decisively
strengthen friendly relations with oil-producing countries through any
single program or project. Rather, they both place primary importanceon maintaining and expanding personal friendships and relationshipsof trust between JCCP staff and counterpart personnel in oil-producing
countries, through the gradual yet steady efforts that are compiled ona year by year basis, to complete each program and project that is
specifically designed in response to each country’s needs.
As a result of JCCP’s quarter-century of activities since its
establishment, there are now numerous supporters of JCCP activities

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics •1

throughout the oil downstream sector in major oil-producing countries, many of whom have been promoted
to high positions in their organizations. Increasingly, their cooperation is becoming an important asset in
implementing JCCP activities, as well as in holding policy dialogues with leading figures in oil-producing
countries. At the same time, however, there have been cases where JCCP activities have been temporarily
discontinued due to certain circumstances, and the rebuilding of friendly relations is proving to be adifficult task. With due respect to the efforts of all our predecessors, I sincerely hope that the continuous
accumulation of JCCP activities will bear fruit in the future.
In recent years, domestic circumstances have brought severe changes to the environment surrounding
JCCP. Yet, JCCP’s commitment to making steady, ongoing efforts for further development of theorganization remains unchanged under the new leadership of Mr. Yaichi Kimura, President, and Mr.
Masataka Sase, Executive Director. I therefore hope that everyone will continue to provide JCCP theirkind understanding and support as before. Thank you all very much.

Message from the Incoming Executive Director of JCCP

Mr. Masataka Sase
Executive Director, Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum

I have filled the seat of Executive Director of JCCP as of July 1, 2008, andwould like to take the opportunity of this newsletter to express a few wordsof greeting.
The Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum was founded in November
1981, with the objective of building close relationships between Japan andoil-producing countries. For over 27 years since its founding, it has assumed
an important role in promoting technical cooperation and personal exchanges,
mainly in the oil downstream sector. During this period, some 17,900
participants have been accepted to JCCP programs in Japan, and more than
4,700 Japanese experts have provided their services abroad. There is no doubtthat these steady achievements have further solidified the relationships of cooperation and trust between
Japan and oil-producing countries.
During the past few years, oil prices have continued to remain high, so that for a country like Japan,
which possesses few natural resources, securing stable supplies of oil and other resources continues tobe an issue of primary concern. In the global arena, as represented by global environmental issues, it is
becoming increasingly necessary to establish new frameworks of interrelationships that transcend any
distinctions between oil-producing and oil-consuming countries, to address growing concerns arisingfrom rapid advancements in economic globalization.
Personally, I have spent many years dealing with energy issues, and international energy issues inparticular, and am more than pleased to have further opportunities to put my experience to good use
at JCCP. Going forward, we at JCCP fully intend to respond to new needs of the times and fulfill the
expectations placed upon us, by leveraging the far-reaching bonds of friendship that JCCP has cultivatedwith oil-producing countries over many years.

2• Topics •JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Topics

H.H. Dr. Turki Al-Saud,Vice President of KACST, Visits Japan
In response to an invitation from JCCP, H.H.
Dr. Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Saud, Vice
President of King Abdulaziz City for Science andTechnology (KACST) in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, visited Japan from June 21 to 28, under the
JCCP VIP Invitation Program.
KACST is a state-run scientific researchorganization located in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi
Arabia. It promotes research and development
not only in oil and gas technologies, but also invarious other areas of development, including
biotechnology, nanotechnology, and space andaeronautics technology. KACST and Japan haveengaged in a number of joint technical cooperation
projects over a period of more than a decade, datingback to the beginning of technical cooperation
programs implemented in collaboration with thePetroleum Energy Center (PEC).
H.H. Dr. Turki Al-Saud is a specialist in spaceengineering technology. Prior to his appointment as
Vice President of KACST, he has been successful inlaunching a number of satellites in Saudi Arabia as
Director of the Space Research Institute. In addition
to his position as Vice President of KACST, Dr.
Turki Al-Saud also holds other important positions,
including Chairman of the National Science &Technology Planning Council, which governs
national science and technology policies and theimplementation of programs under those policies.
In these capacities, Dr. Turki Al-Saud plays a central
role in the development of science and technology
in Saudi Arabia.
During his recent visit to Japan, Dr. Turki AlSaud made courtesy calls on various research
institutes, companies, and governmental agencies inJapan, in addition to oil-related research institutions,at his strong request. An overview of those visits is
as follows.

1) JCCP Headquarters
Dr. Turki Al-Saud first visited JCCP Headquarters,
where he met with Mr. Mikio Kojima, thenExecutive Director of JCCP, and Mr. Katsuo
Yokoyama, Managing Director of JCCP, andreceived an overview of JCCP activities.

With Mr. Mikio Kojima, then-Executive Director of JCCP,
and others at JCCP Headquarters2)Japan Energy Corporation,
Petroleum Refining Research &Technology Center
At the Petroleum Refining Research &Technology Center, Dr. Turki Al-Saud received
a warm welcome from all staff, followed by awelcome speech by Mr. Kenichi Matsuda, Directorof the Center, and a presentation of the Center’s
activities. He then toured the research buildings
while listening intently to the details of a wide
range of research projects, including a pilot test
on desulfurization catalysts, fuel cells, and biotreatment of spilled crude oil. During the tour, Dr.
Turki Al-Saud showed strong interest not only in the
research projects, but also in the pilot test equipment

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics •3

and other research facilities, because the researchfacilities at KACST are presently undergoing largescale expansion work.

years ago, and as a strong supporter of research insatellite-related technologies at KACST, Dr. Turki
Al-Saud engaged in active discussions with the
ERSDAC staff.

4) Toyota Motor Corporation

A warm welcome from Mr. Matsuda,
Director of Petroleum Refining Research &Technology Center, and the staff3)Earth Remote Sensing Data
Analysis Center (ERSDAC)ERSDAC processes and analyzes various earth
observation satellite data to extract information on
rocks and geological structures that provide indicesof oil and natural resource distribution and otherrelated forms of data. It also conducts research anddevelopment on the application of such remotesensing data to resource exploration, as well as
applied research in the environmental field.

Dr. Turki Al-Saud first observed the car assemblyline at the Toyota Tsutsumi Plant in Aichi Prefecture,
one of the largest automotive plants in Japan. He
then received a tour of the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition
Hall and a presentation by Mr. Takayuki Kusashima,
Chief Manager, and others on “Toyota’s Initiatives
toward Sustainable Mobility.” At the Tsutsumi
Plant, Dr. Al-Saud appeared impressed with
Toyota’s kaizen activities and the “jidoka” and“just-in-time” concepts, and seemed surprised tolearn that new employees are trained to become
capable of front-line work on the shop floor in justtwo months. He also expressed strong interest in
Toyota’s new initiatives, such as the developmentof fuel cells.

Presentation on Toyota Motors’ latest initiatives5) National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology(AIST)
Active discussions at ERSDAC

Dr. Turki Al-Saud first received a warm greetingfrom Mr. Yoshiro Kamata, Chairman of ERSDAC,
followed by an overview of the status of various
research and development projects and a tour of the
facilities. Having visited ERSDAC before, about 10

4• Topics •At AIST, Dr. Turki Al-Saud received a greetingby Mr. Akira Ono, Vice President, an overview
of the organization, a presentation on the statusof research and development in nanotechnology
and other projects in progress, and a tour of the
facilities.
Through this visit, Dr. Turki Al-Saud and the
AIST side identified possibilities for cooperation

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

in various areas, and agreed to establish mutualcontacts for creating a partnership under concreteterms.

We, JCCP, believe that this invitation program
has helped Dr. Turki Al-Saud further his knowledgeof JCCP activities, and the opportunities to witness
first-hand Japan’s latest technologies, in particular,
deepened his understanding of trends in oil andenergy situations in Japan. That such an important
person as Dr. Turki Al-Saud, who plays a central
role in promoting science and technology in Saudi
Arabia, gained a better understanding of Japanand increased his confidence in Japan, has great
meaning to Japan.

Nanotechnology laboratory at AIST

6) Governmental agencies
At their strong request, Dr. Turki Al-Saud and
H.E. Mr. Faisal Trad, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to
Japan, visited a number of governmental agencies
in Japan, to exchange views on the developmentof cooperative exchanges in the fields of scienceand technologies between Japan and Saudi Arabia.
At the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry(METI), he met with the Deputy Director-Generalof the Manufacturing Industries Bureau, theDirector of the Aerospace Industry Office in the
Manufacturing Industries Bureau, and the Directorof the Middle East and Africa Office in the Trade
Policy Bureau. They also paid a courtesy call on
the Council for Science and Technology Policyin the Cabinet Office, and the Director-General of
the Science and Technology Policy Bureau in the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (MEXT).

7) Reception at the Embassy of
Saudi Arabia in Japan
In the evening of the last day of visits, H.E.
Ambassador Trad kindly hosted a reception at
the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Japan, inviting
ambassadors of other Middle East countries and key
figures from companies and organizations which Dr.
Turki Al-Saud visited in Japan.

With H.E. Ambassador Trad of Saudi Arabia

With the ambassadors of Middle East countries in Japan

We would like to take this opportunity to report
the successful completion of the invitation program
to everyone at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Japan,
METI, MEXT, the Cabinet Office, Japan Energy
Corporation, ERSDAC, Toyota Motor Corporation,
AIST, and all others who cooperated with theprogram, and extend our deepest appreciation for
their kind support.
<by Shigeru Nanbara, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics •5

Topics

FY2008 JCCP Program Seminar
Invitation of Managers from JCCP Counterpartsin Oil-Producing Countries

Seminar participants and JCCP staff at JCCP

JCCP held an 8-day Program Seminar (TCJ-1-08)
from July 9 to 16, 2008, inviting the attendance ofmanagers from JCCP counterparts in oil-producing
countries. The Program Seminar aims to deepen
understanding of JCCP among JCCP counterpartsin oil-producing countries, by offering the same
experience as a regular course. It also promotes
exchanges of views on future plans for training
programs and expert services, as well as on theimplementation of regular courses in general, as ameans of improving the content and organizationof future courses.
Though the seminar was short, covering roughly
a week, the participants easily shared their trustwith the JCCP staff and gave frank opinions on
various issues, based on the working relationshipthey have each established with the staff throughfrequent communications regarding the sending/receiving of participants to regular courses, via fax
and e-mail. As a result, we have acquired many
views and opinions that would help us improve
our regular courses by incorporating them into our
future plans.

6• Topics •1. ParticipantsThis year, 20 participants from 10 countries
participated in the seminar. At an average age of 46,
the group consisted mainly of executive personnel ofdepartments related to human resource management(HRM) in their respective organizations. As can beobserved from the list of participants, we basicallyreceived participants from most of the countries
with which Japan has a deep relationship in termsof securing crude oil supplies.
<Middle East>
UAE (ADNOC/TAKREER)
4
Saudi Arabia (Saudi Aramco)
2
Iran (NIORDC)
2
Yemen (ARC)
2
Bahrain (BAPCO)
1<Africa>
Nigeria (NNPC)
2
Libya (NOC/AGOC)
2<Asia>
Indonesia (PERTAMINA)
2
Malaysia (PETRONAS)
2<Central Asia>
Kazakhstan (KAZMUNAYGAS)
1
Total: 20 participants

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

2. Content of the Seminar(1) Outline of the FY2009 JCCP Training
Schedule
At the beginning of July 2008, JCCP announced
its annual schedule of FY2009 regular courses andplans for the implementation of CPO (Customized
Program Overseas) and CPJ (Customized Program
Japan). During the seminar, we explained theschedule in detail, and sought cooperation from theparticipants in promoting the smooth implementationof FY2009 training courses, by asking them toincorporate the schedule into their organizations’training plans for next year.
Additionally, as part of JCCP’s efforts sincelast year to increase tailor-made programs, we
provided a detailed explanation of the schedule andthemes of CPO and CPJ for FY2009, and separately
discussed the possibility of their implementation
with participants who showed particular interest in
the programs.
(2) Regular Course Experience
Participants of program seminars generally havestrong interest in human resource development
systems in Japan, because the majority of them aremembers of HRM-related departments. Based on
this awareness, for this year’s seminar we included
an introduction of the human resource development
systems at Nippon Oil Refining Company’s
Mizushima Refinery and the Headquarters of
JGC Corporation, with the cooperation of the twocompanies.
The rest of the program seminar was conductedin the same manner as we do our regular courses, togive the participants a general idea of what regularcourse participants usually go through, as well as
the entire flow of a regular course. It included an
opening ceremony, administrative guidance andorientation on “Japanese language and society”
and “overview of Japan’s oil industry,” onsite
training at a refinery, field trips, as well as a closing
ceremony.
Program seminars incorporate visits to Japanese
oil and engineering companies as much as possible, sothat participants can gain a direct feel for production

sites in Japan and their operations. As we had hoped,
this year’s participants, as with participants inprevious seminars, seemed to particularly appreciate
the first-hand experience in understanding Japanesestyle corporate management.
By sharing the same experience of this seminar,
the participants developed strong bonds of friendshipwith each other. Many of them enjoyed theopportunity to meet new people who share thesame interests, and said that they look forward
to keeping in touch even after completion of
the seminar, through e-mail and other means ofcommunication.
(3) Information Exchange on Human Resource
Development Programs in Each Country
The JCCP Program Seminar provides a forum forexchange between JCCP and oil-producing countries,
as well as opportunities for mutual exchange among
oil-producing countries. Based on this concept,
we had all participants deliver a presentation thatcovers an overview of their company, their human

A participant giving a presentation

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Presentation session• Topics •7

resource development policies, and evaluation
or requests of JCCP programs, on July 15. The
participants compared each other’s human resource
development systems with their own, and engagedin active discussions. JCCP also benefited from thepresentations, by gaining a better idea of humanresource development systems in oil-producing
countries and acquiring important information forimproving future training programs.
As a recent trend, rapid increases in oil
consumption in oil-producing countries are placingpressure on companies to boost oil refining capacity,
upgrade refining facilities, and acquire greater
competitive power. However, the development of
human resources is vital to meeting these demands,
and oil-producing countries are increasingly
focusing their attention not only on Western-stylehuman resource development systems, but Japanesesystems as well, particularly for the advantages ofkaizen activities and other Japanese concepts.
The successful completion of this 8-day Program
Seminar underscored the significance of providing
a forum for oil-producing countries and Japan toTour of JCCP facilities

exchange views on improving JCCP regular courses.
We hope to make continuous improvements andoffer even greater opportunities next year and on.
Lastly, we would like to extend our sincere
gratitude to the members of Nippon Oil Refining
Company’s Mizushima Refinery and JGC
Corporation, and to everyone else as well who
gave their support and cooperation for the efficient
implementation of this program seminar. Thankyou very much.

At Nippon Oil Refining’s Mizushima Refinery

8• Topics •JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Topics

Establishment of the“FY2008 Working Group forCountry-Specific Action Plan”
The Working Group for Country-Specific Action
Plan held its first meeting on June 11, 2008, andcommenced its activities for FY2008. The Working
Group was established as recommended by the
JCCP Review Panel in FY2006, with the mandate
to closely assess situations in each counterpart oilproducing country, and to implement activities that
more appropriately correspond to those situations. In
FY2007, the Working Group analyzed downstream
trends in Middle East oil-producing countries, andcompiled a country-specific action plan containing
proposals for the implementation of future JCCP
activities in each country. FY2008 marks theWorking Group’s second year of activities. The
following outlines the objectives of the FY2008
Working Group.

1. Objectives
Based on an analysis of downstream trends in
Middle East oil-producing countries, the FY2007

Working Group for Country-Specific Action Plan
pointed out two significant trends. That is, that oil
consumption in Middle East oil-producing countries
has already reached 6 million b/d and will continue
to increase, and that Middle East oil-producing
countries should be regarded as major oil-consuming
countries, concurrent to their being oil-producing
countries. Based on this understanding, the Working
Group reported that controlling oil consumptionin Middle East oil-producing countries is vitalto stabilizing oil supplies to Japan and other oilconsuming countries, and toward that end, thatJapan must continue to support the advancement ofrefining technologies, reinforcement of managementfoundations, and development of human resources,in these countries.
The FY2008 Working Group has focused on theimportance of securing stable oil supplies not only
by controlling oil consumption in Middle East oilproducing countries, but also by widely studying
oil consumption trends in the region extending

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1995

2000

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Fig. 1 Crude oil production-consumption balance in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics •9

Meeting of the Working Group

Participants listening to Dr. Koyama’s presentationfrom the Middle East, through Asia, and to Japan,
and implementing cooperation with the aim ofcontrolling oil consumption within the entire region.
Thus, it plans to more deeply probe into downstream
trends in Middle East oil-producing countries, aswell as oil-producing countries in Asia.
Fig. 1 shows a bar graph of crude oil production
and consumption in the Middle East and Asia-Pacificregions, over the 40-year period between 1965 and2005. The line graph superimposed on the bar graphshows the production-consumption balance of crude
oil. In the 1970s, there was a surplus supply capacityof around 15 million b/d, but the balance graduallybegan to fall in the 1990s. Today, it has shrunk tosome 2 million b/d. Oil production is increasing in
Middle East oil-producing countries, but at the sametime, consumption is increasing in the Asia-Pacificregion, and is expected to continue increasing.
When crude oil balance is tipped toward
production, as it was in the 1970s, Japan needed
only to consider its relationship with Middle East
oil-producing countries, to secure stable suppliesof oil. However, today’s situation calls for careful
10 • Topics •consideration of the balance between oil productionin Middle East oil-producing countries and oil
consumption in the oil-consuming countries of both
the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.

2. Outline of Activities(1) Framework
In FY2008, a Downstream Survey Committee
is planned to be established under the Working
Group for Country-Specific Action Plan, to

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Dr. Ken Koyamadivide the functions of surveying oil consumption
trends in oil-producing countries and preparing
JCCP activity plans based on the results of thesurvey, between the two groups. The Survey
Committee will be composed of experts from oiland engineering companies and public research
institutes. The Working Group will seek members
from public institutions specializing in energy
and technical cooperation, as well as from among
JCCP management personnel below the positionof executive director, and will be responsible forformulating a comprehensive action plan.
(2) Past Activities
On June 11, 2008, the Working Group held its
first meeting, where the Secretariat presented the
FY2008 survey plan. On July 24, Dr. Ken Koyama,
Director of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japanand a specialist in oil issues, gave a presentation
at the request of the Group. In his presentation
titled “Oil Situations in the Oil Belts in the Middle
East and Asia,” Dr. Koyama explained that large
increases in oil consumption in Middle East oilproducing countries and Asia-Pacific countries arebringing great changes to the structure of Japan’s

crude oil import market, and that is it important,hereafter, to keep focused on those structuralchanges. He also pointed out that as Middle East oilproducing countries tend to place large weight on
their relationships with Japan, Japan must respondto these expectations. In addition to members of theWorking Group, participants from JCCP member
companies and JCCP personnel were also invited toattend the presentation, to reach a shared awarenessof today’s oil situation.
(3) Future Activities
The Working Group has reached a consensus
on the direction of the FY2008 survey after two
discussion sessions, and will now be passing thebaton to the Downstream Survey Committee.
Thereafter, based on the survey results of theCommittee, the Working Group will analyze oil
downstream trends in Middle East oil-producing
countries and Asia-Pacific countries, and prepare acountry-specific action plan by the end of the fiscal
year. The finalized action plan will be presented at
the end of FY2008.
<by Hisayoshi Tanda, Secretariat of the Working Group
for Country-Specific Action Plan>

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics • 11

Topics

Participation in“The 33rd Japan Cooperation Forumfor the Middle East”
The Expanding and Deepening Cooperative Relationshipbetween the Middle East and JapanThe Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle
East (JCCME) held “The 33rd Japan Cooperation
Forum for the Middle East” on August 27 and28, 2008. Mr. Mikio Kojima, Executive Advisorof JCCP, attended the forum and delivered apresentation on “JCCP Activities in Middle East
Countries.”

1. Overview of the ForumJCCME organized the first Japan Cooperation
Forum for the Middle East in 1976, and has held theforum for the 33rd time this year. Although previous
forums have been held mainly in Vienna, this year
the venue was moved to Dubai, in the Middle East
region.
Participants at the forum discussed this year’s
main theme, “The Expanding and Deepening
Cooperative Relationship between the Middle Eastand Japan,” under two sub-themes, one of which was
titled “A New Dawn: Arabs Looking East.”
Approximately 300 representatives ofgovernmental institutions, public organizations,

Scene from the forum

12 • Topics •Mr. Mikio Kojima delivering his presentationand private companies that have an interest in the
Middle East attended the event, to discuss situationsin the Middle East and future cooperation to theregion, from various angles.

2. JCCP Presentation
The afternoon session on the first day of the forum
featured activity reports by concerned organizations.
They included a 15-minute presentation of JCCP
activities by Mr. Kojima, as well as presentations
by JOGMEC and JICA representatives. Mr. Kojima
gave a brief account of the restructuring of JCCP
activities since FY2005, and specifically discussed
current topics in JCCP’s training and technicalcooperation activities related to the Middle East.
In his presentation, Mr. Kojima emphasized
the importance of designing human resource
development activities with a 20 to 30 year longterm perspective. He explained that JCCP began

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

receiving participants to its training courses since
its establishment in 1981, and has steadily continued
the program even during periods of low oil prices,such as in the latter half of the 1980s. Owing tothis steady effort, more than 17,000 individuals
in oil-producing countries have deepened theirunderstanding of Japan. Many of them have goneon to become essential human resources to refinery
management in their respective organizations.
At the end of his presentation, Mr. Kojima
outlined the main points of the “JCCP CountrySpecific Action Plan,” which was formulated in
FY2007. Based on the finding that increases incrude oil consumption in Middle East oil-producing
countries are adversely impacting crude oil exports
to Japan and other oil-consuming countries, hestated that it is JCCP’s mission to help increase oilutilization efficiency in Middle East oil-producing
countries and stabilize crude oil supplies to Japan,
by strengthening technical cooperation to thosecountries in such areas as energy conservation
and advanced refining technologies. He closed
his presentation with a firm resolve to contributeto building a win-win relationship between Japanand Middle East oil-producing countries, based on
this technical cooperation. After his presentation,
Mr. Kojima responded to an interview by the press,
as well as questions and comments from otherparticipants, and further promoted the understandingof JCCP activities by all those concerned.

in some countries, the speakers pointed out that
active efforts need to be made to promote alternative
energies and the use of solar heat, wind, and otherrenewable forms of energy in the future. They
also discussed the deepening of relations between
Middle East oil-producing countries and newly
emerging oil-consuming countries, such as China
and India, and pointed out the need for Japan todevelop a stronger presence in the Middle East.
By participating in the forum, we learned
that JCCP’s basic understanding and concepts
regarding the seven major oil-producing countries
in the Middle East, as outlined in the CountrySpecific Action Plan formulated last fiscal year,
correspond to views held by representatives of otherorganizations. At the same time, we recognizedanew that JCCP’s next step is to specifically put
the plan to action.
As other key figures have also pointed out
repeatedly during the forum, the greatest challenge
we now face is to stabilize oil supplies by providing
technical support in an effort to increase oilutilization efficiency in the Middle East. We plan
to deepen cooperation with related organizations
and companies through our participation in various
forums, including the Japan Cooperation Forumfor the Middle East, and to leverage our strengths
to promote greater economic cooperation between
Middle East oil-producing countries and Japan asa representative of Japan.
<by Hisayoshi Tanda, Administration Dept.>

3. New Awareness of the
Middle East
This year’s forum took place amid increasing
crude oil prices, which has finally exceeded USD
100 dollars per barrel, and was held with theawareness that this state could be a major turning
point in the relationship between Japan and the
Middle East. Mr. Kojima and representatives ofother organizations reiterated their observation thathigh crude oil prices are boosting economies in
Middle East oil-producing countries, but that theireconomic development is also greatly increasing
oil consumption in the region. As securing fuelfor power generation is becoming a serious issue

Forum venue: Intercontinental Hotel

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Topics • 13

Personnel
Exchange“Refinery Plant Maintenance Seminar”
Held in UAE (TAKREER)

Participants of the seminar

1. Background to the Seminar
The United Arab Emirates is the second largest
exporter of crude oil to Japan after Saudi Arabia,
accounting for a share of approximately 26%, andone of Japan’s most important countries in termsof securing stable supplies of crude oil. However,no Customized Program Overseas (CPO) has been
held in UAE since the establishment of JCCP,
except for the “Environment and Safety Seminar”
held in 2004.
In January 2008, Mr. Mikio Kojima, thenExecutive Director of JCCP, held a policy dialogue
with H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef, CEO of Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), andMr. Jasem Ali Al-Sayegh, General Manager at
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (TAKREER),
and paved the way for future implementation of
tailor-made programs in UAE. Thereafter, a JCCP
delegation composed of Mr. Hisayoshi Tanda, thenGeneral Manager of the Operations Department,
Mr. Shigeyoshi Takahashi, then-Master Lecturer of
the Training Department, and Mr. Kazuhiro Hirano,
then-General Manager of the JCCP Middle East
14 • Personnel Exchange Programs •Office, visited TAKREER in February, to advancediscussions on the implementation of the programs.
In the meeting, JCCP counterparts Mr. Ahmed
Herzallah, Senior Career Development Officer HR& A Division, and Mr. Anwar Mahmoud Ghalib Al
Mutawa, Senior Training Officer, Training & Career
Development Dept. HR & A Division, requested aseminar on refinery plant maintenance.
As requested, JCCP held the “Refinery Plant
Maintenance Seminar” over a four-day period,
from July 21 to 24, 2008. Four MaintenanceGroup members from JCCP’s Training Department(Messrs. S. Miyawaki, K. Nakazawa, F. Tone, and
A. Higashi) lectured on pre-assigned topics related
to the theme of the seminar.

2. Overview of the Seminar
Tailor-made programs would typically be held at
a training center situated on a refinery site. However,the Refinery Plant Maintenance Seminar was heldin the conference room of the Sheraton Abu Dhabi
Hotel, due to refinery security policies. Mr. Abed
Nasser Al Ameri, Manager of the Maintenance

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Preliminary meeting on the day before the seminar

Seminar scene

Department at Abu Dhabi Refinery, participatedin the seminar, in addition to 17 engineers from
TAKREER’s Abu Dhabi and Ruwais Refineries
and pump stations.
Recent years have seen the construction of many
new buildings in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which havedramatically changed the cities’ skylines. Sheraton
Abu Dhabi, the venue of the seminar, provided
superb hospitality, and facilitated the pleasantand successful implementation of the seminar.
Also owing to thorough preparations made by the
TAKREER staff, the seminar proceeded smoothly
and accomplished its goals, as planned.

Day 2: Lecture on maintenance management at
refineries
Day 3: Lecture on safety management and TPM
activities at refineries
Day 4: Lecture on case examples of damage to static
equipment and their countermeasures
Q&A session, presentation of completion
certificates, closing ceremony

3. Details of the Seminar
The seminar mainly featured various maintenancemanagement issues and their countermeasures,
which the JCCP lecturers have experienced at
Japanese refineries. The following topics werecovered during the four days of the seminar.
Day 1: Opening ceremony, self-introductions,introduction of JCCP
Lecture on maintenance management ofrotary equipment at refineries

Mr. Abed Nasser Al Ameri, Manager, delivering theclosing address

Based on their vast experience in their respective
topics, the lecturers also discussed technicalimprovements that have been made at Japaneserefineries, reliability improvement activities,
awareness-raising activities, and achievements
made in those areas, and engaged the participants inan active Q&A session, which enhanced the content
of the seminar.

4. Evaluation and Impressions of the
Seminar
As a general impression of the seminar, we JCCP
lecturers sensed the participants’ strong desire to
apply even a small part of what they have learned
from the seminar to their respective workplaces, tocontribute to improving TAKREER refineries in the
future. In the evaluation forms handed out on the
final day, all of the participants indicated their wish
to participate in a JCCP regular course in Japan in
the near future, and provided bright prospects for
JCCP training activities.
Lastly, we wish to extend our sincerest
appreciation to everyone (and Mr. Anwar, inparticular) who generously gave us their time andcooperation every step of the way in the planningand implementation of the seminar.

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

<by Akio Higashi, Training Dept.>• Personnel Exchange Programs • 15

Participant’s Voice
Refinery Management(TR-8-08: June 3 – June 17, 2008)
Mr. Alireza Amin (Iran / NIORDC)

It is a great pleasure to have this opportunity
to share my impressions of the TR-8-08 Refinery
Management course on behalf of my colleagues. The
course presented lectures on the Japanese Economy,
Energy Savings, Environmental Conservation, Safety
Management, Human Resources, and Japanese
Culture, and included trips to several cities outsideof Tokyo. The following are some of my thoughts on
the course and the country during my 15-day stay inJapan.
Japan’s industrial foundations were completely
destroyed during the Second World War. However,the people of Japan dramatically rebuilt their country
into one the most developed countries in the world,in less than 50 years. Since Japan has no significant
natural resources, the question comes to mind: How
did Japan achieve this feat in such a short time? In my
opinion, the answer lies in the firm manner in which
the people and leaders of Japan believed in theircountry and took decisive action for its future, though
it certainly could not have been easy. Japan has no
crude oil resources, but there are many experienced
companies in the area of engineering, manufacturing
and construction. In fact, more than 30 modernizedrefineries in Japan process crude oil and provide
domestic fuel requirements.
In the transportation sector, the railway network
spreads not only throughout large cities, but also acrossthe entire country, so that traveling is comfortable, safeand easy, as well as quick and efficient. Even in large,
crowded cities, traffic runs very smoothly. Moreover,transportation in Tokyo makes efficient use of space on
three levels, with its surface streets, elevated express
highways, and underground subways. However, notonly the oil and transportation sectors, but all Japaneseindustries are globally recognized for their expertise.
I found Japanese culture to be very interesting and

16 • Personnel Exchange Programs •different from other cultures. The Japanese people arepolite, kind, and punctual, and hold a strong sense of
responsibility toward their jobs. They also work very
well as a team. In the lecture on PS Management, welearned how to solve management problems throughteamwork.
We made two trips during the course, the first, toKamakura and Yokohama, and the second, to Kurashiki
and Hiroshima. Besides visiting two large refineries andan engineering company, we also enjoyed the beautiful
scenery along the way. We saw no barren or exposed
land, but rice fields, factories, cities, or tree-covered
mountains, everywhere we looked. On these trips
we also visited a number of shrines and temples, andwitnessed some traditional ceremonies.
The Refinery Management course was informative,
beneficial and excellent. I would like to dedicate
my sincere thanks to the JCCP management andstaff members, and especially to Messrs. Takahashi
and Ueno, for their hospitality and leadership. I am
certain my colleagues hold the same feelings ofappreciation.
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita. Sayonara.

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Participant’s Voice
Project Management for MechanicalEngineers(TR-10-08: June 24 – July 11, 2008)
Mr. Raed Mustafa Attar (Saudi Arabia / Saudi Aramco)

I would like to thank JCCP for selecting me tocontribute to JCCP News through the kind considerationof the editorial staff.
First of all, on behalf of all the participants of thecourse, I would like to express my deepest appreciation
to the JCCP management and kind staff for their efforts
in organizing this excellent and beneficial course, andfor their warm hospitality.
Fifteen participants representing 10 nations took
part in this course, which presented an unforgettable
experience to us all. We were impressed with Japanese
history, culture, tradition and economy, all of which
embody the Japanese values of a strong work ethic,
respect for colleagues, and deep dedication to one’sorganization and its goals. We were also taken by thepoliteness and impeccable manners of the Japanesepeople in their beautiful country.
The 18-day course greatly benefited us in enhancing
our project management skills. The various approaches
to the subject matter, and especially the site visits, were
extremely valuable.
We first visited Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’
Yokohama Plant, where we observed the manufacturing
process of steam turbines and boilers using the latest
technologies. Also in Yokohama, we visited JGC, oneof the leading engineering firms in the oil industry anda major player in ongoing projects being implemented
abroad, and learned about project management for
EPC projects.
We then visited Idemitsu Kosan’s Chiba Oil Refinery,
where we observed refinery processes, utility andcontrol rooms outfitted with all the latest technologies,
in addition to the refinery’s project planning andmaintenance management systems.
From Chiba, we traveled to Hokkaido, to visit
Hokkaido Joint Oil Stockpiling, which is one of thelargest crude oil storage facilities in the world, fully
automated with state-of-the-art technology. At theJapan Steel Works’ Muroran Plant, we had the valuable
experience of observing how steel is melted, cast, andformed into huge pressure vessels and columns using
different machining and forming techniques.
Our journey also included a field trip to Sapporo.
We will always remember the beautiful attractions of
the city. The nine-day trip wasn’t an easy trip, but it
was worth every moment.
Through the course, we learned from A to Z how
an oil or gas facility is designed, constructed, managed
and maintained in Japan. We will take back with us all
the knowledge and best practices we have acquired inthis course, and plan to establish a shared site to further
exchange knowledge and extend our friendship.
In conclusion, on behalf of all my colleagues from
TR-10-08, I would like to thank JCCP and all who havecontributed to this excellent program, and above all,
Messrs. Fumihiro Tone and Akio Higashi for their special
care, guidance, understanding, and kind tolerance to
our cultures, throughout the course.
Domo arigato gozaimashita.

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Personnel Exchange Programs • 17

JCCP Regular Courses Completed in June – July 2008

TR-9-08
Safety Management for Refineries
Period:June 24 – July 11, 2008
No. of participants:
18
Country of participants: Brazil, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Iran,
Kuwait, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam,
Yemen

TR-10-08 Project Management for Mechanical Engineers
Period:June 24 – July 11, 2008
No. of participants:
15
Country of participants: Colombia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya,
Mexico, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
ThailandIT-1-08
Practical Technology for Energy Saving
Period:July 8 – July 18, 2008
No. of participants:
17
Country of participants: China, Colombia, Indonesia, Iran,Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia,
Thailand, UAE

Total: 50 participants

18 • Personnel Exchange Programs •JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

FY2009 JCCP Course Schedule
In FY2009, JCCP will offer 24 courses, including 21 regular courses (TR) and 3 intensive courses(IT), as shown below.
Course No.

Course title

PeriodTR-1

Online Analyzer

Apr 7– Apr 24, 2009

TR-2

Petroleum Marketing

Apr 7– Apr 24, 2009

TR-3

Upgrading Processes of Heavy Oil

Apr 7– Apr 24, 2009

TR-4

Human Resource Management (HRM)

May 12 – May 29, 2009

TR-5

Essential Petroleum Refining for Process Engineers

May 12 – May 29, 2009

TR-6

Diagnostic Techniques and Maintenance for Rotary MachineryMay 12 – May 29, 2009

TR-7

Refinery Management

Jun 2– Jun 16, 2009

TR-8

DCS Fundamentals and Applications

Jun 2

–

Jun 19, 2009

TR-9

Safety Management for Refineries

Jun 23 –Jul 10, 2009

TR-10

Material Problems and Their CountermeasuresJun 23 –Jul 10, 2009

TR-11

Environmental Management for Refineries

Oct 6– Oct 23, 2009

TR-12

Project Management for Mechanical Engineers

Oct 6– Oct 23, 2009

TR-13

Advanced Field Devices and Control

Oct 6– Oct 23, 2009

TR-14

Petroleum Marketing and Product Delivery

Oct 27 – Nov 13, 2009

TR-15

Gas Processing for LNG

Oct 27 – Nov 13, 2009

TR-16

Maintenance Management

Oct 27 – Nov 13, 2009

TR-17

Training Management

Nov 24 – Dec 11, 2009

IT-1

Advanced Technologies for Rotary Machinery –Reliability Enhancement–

Dec 1– Dec 11, 2009

IT-2

Model Predictive Control

Dec 1– Dec 11, 2009

TR-18

Quality Management of Refinery Products

Jan 12 –Jan 29, 2010

IT-3

Petroleum Marketing and Physical Distribution

Jan 19 –Jan 29, 2010

TR-19

Energy Saving for Profitability Improvement

Feb 9– Feb 26, 2010

TR-20

Inspection and Reliability Evaluation

Feb 9– Feb 26, 2010

TR-21

Advanced Process Control on DCS

Feb 9– Feb 26, 2010

Marketing,
HRM Field

Maintenance
Field

Process
Field

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Instrumentation
Field• Personnel Exchange Programs • 19

TechnicalCooperation

Study on the Treatment and Utilization of
Oilfield-produced Water in Oman
1. Project BackgroundOilfield-produced water (oily wastewater from
oilfields) accounts for the greatest volume of waste
produced in the process of crude oil production.
Particularly in Oman, three times more oily
wastewater is pumped up from oilfields during thecrude oil production process than the actual volume
of oil that is produced. It is one of the greatest
environmental concerns in the country, and thedevelopment of appropriate wastewater treatment
technology is urgently sought.
Meanwhile, oily wastewater from oilfields insouthern Oman has been found to be relatively
low in salinity. Therefore, if the concentration ofoil contained in the wastewater can be reduced toconform to Oman’s water standards, the water canbe recycled as irrigation water.

As much as 300,000 tons/day of oily wastewater
is produced from oilfields in Oman. It is clearlyan enormous water resource, especially when
considering the fact that this volume of oilfieldproduced water corresponds to 1.5 times thevolume of water used per day in Muscat. Oman’s
dependence on groundwater is an extremely high99%, and one of the highest even among the Gulf
countries, but 55% of the groundwater is fossil
water that cannot be replenished. With the future
depletion of water resources a distinct possibility
in Oman, securing and protecting groundwater
resources is definitely one of the most vital issues
for the development of the country.
In FY2007, JCCP launched a three-year project(FY2007 – 2009) to address this issue in cooperation
with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman,
with the participation of Shimizu Corporation.

Conceptual image of oilfield-produced water

Conceptual image of irrigation using oilfield-produced water

20 • Technical Cooperation •JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

2. Project Overview
The goal of the project is to treat 1,000 tons/dayof oilfield-produced wastewater in Oman using lowcost wastewater treatment technologies (pressure
flotation, filtration, adsorption), and to conduct apilot test on recycling the treated water as irrigationwater, prior to putting the technology to practicaluse. The effective utilization of oilfield-produced
wastewater would help solve the issue of wastethat accompanies oilfield development, and thedevelopment of a new water resource would greatly
contribute to achieving sustainable developmentin the country, as pursued by the government ofOman.
The project will draw on Shimizu Corporation’sabundant experience and technologies relating

to the treatment of oilfield-produced wastewater,
to treat oilfield-produced wastewater and otheraccompanying waste products using low-costwastewater treatment technologies. The oil content
will be recovered, and the treated water will bereused as irrigation water. Through implementationof this project, JCCP and SQU will also jointly
investigate the waste issue accompanying oilfielddevelopment, and aim to promote human resource
development in the process of solving the issue.
We have every hope that the successful
completion of this project will strengthen thefriendly relationship between Oman and Japan, andthat the transfer of Japan’s technologies for treating
oily wastewater will contribute to the developmentof oilfield-produced water treatment technologies
in Oman.
<by Nobuyuki Suyama, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

Technical
Cooperation

Support for the Establishment of
TAKREER Research Center in UAE
1. Project Background
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (TAKREER),
an affiliate of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company(ADNOC), is striving to be a leading company inthe oil refining industry, by acquiring superior oil
refining and facility management technologies.
To this end, it has been seeking to improve its
technologies, so that it may efficiently solve
technical issues relating to further efficiency andConceptual image of thethree-story TRC building

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Technical Cooperation • 21

optimization of refinery operations.
JCCP commenced a feasibility study on theestablishment of a research center at TAKREER in
FY2005, with the participation of Idemitsu Kosan
Co., Ltd. In June of the same year, the undertaking
was approved by H.E. Yousef Omair Bin Yousef,
CEO of ADNOC, and thus the four-year project on“TAKREER Research Center (TRC) Establishment”(FY2006 – 2009) was begun.

2. Project Overview
The project aims to transfer Idemitsu Kosan’sabundant experience and technologies relating
to the operation of research centers to TRC, by
providing support in designing equipment/apparatus,
formulating a comprehensive project framework in
consideration of the organization, functions, andmanagement technologies of the research center,and in developing research center personnel.
So far, a specific short- to medium-term action
plan has been established for the TRC, and efforts
have been directed toward the formulation of
concrete plans regarding the phased introduction of

test/analysis equipment, organizational framework,
division of duties within each department, and theassignment and employment of personnel.
As a result, a function- and safety-oriented
design has been created for the TRC researchbuilding, and the focus of the project has shiftedto the introduction of a pilot plant and test/analysis
equipment. More specifically, a schedule is being
examined for the installation of the test/analysis
equipment and pilot plants after technical evaluationof the building specifications and completion of
the research building (project to be completed in
May 2009).
In the area of human resource development,
we are considering the dispatch of advisors andinstructors from Japan, as a means to providing
technical guidance on the operation of the installed
equipment, as well as guidance for the analysis ofacquired data.
We have great expectations that the projectwill contribute to the development of oil refining
technologies in UAE, and further deepen friendly
ties between UAE and Japan.
<by Takeyoshi Haishima, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

Center Manager
Secretary

Coordination

Head office,Refineries Licensors

University,
PI Research institutions
Process Study

Research

Chief Engineer

Chief Researcher

Process Engineering

Catalyst Research

Process Modelingand Simulation

Pilot Plant
Analysis
Products Development

Organizational chart of the research center (plan)

22 • Technical Cooperation •JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

Announcements from JCCPThe 27th JCCP International Symposium
Q Date:<Day 1> January 28 (Wed), 2009
Opening Ceremony
Keynote Speech
Guest Speeches
Reception<Day 2> January 29 (Thu), 2009
Session I
Session II

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
3:15 pm – 5:40 pm
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
9:30 am – 12:00 pm
1:30 pm – 4:10 pm

QVenue:

Palace Hotel (1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

QMain Theme:“Future Vision of the Oil Industry—Creating Value from Hydrocarbons and Approaches to
New Energy Systems”

QContact:

A. Yamanaka, Operations Dept., JCCP
E-mail: yamanaka@jccp.or.jp
TEL: +81-3-5396-6001
FAX: +81-3-5396-6006

The 17th Joint GCC-Japan
Environment Symposium
QDate:February 2 (Mon) – February 4 (Wed), 2009

QVenue:

Kuwait City, Kuwait

QCo-organizer:

Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)

QMain Theme:

Water Resources in the GCC and Environmental Challenges

QSession Theme:･ Oil & Gas Industry and Environmental Issues･ Protection and Management of Water Resources･ CDM Project･ Renewable Energy for Water Treatment and Desalination

QContact:

M. Nakamura, Technical Cooperation Dept., JCCP
E-mail: m.nakamura@jccp.or.jp
TEL: +81-3-5396-8021
FAX: +81-3-5396-8015

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008

• Announcements • 23

Personnel Changes
Outgoing Personnel

Incoming Personnel

Kazuhiro HIRANO

Hiroaki HARA

Technical
Cooperation
Department

Haruhiko OSHIMA

Yasuki TAZAWA

Replacementof the General Manager of the JCCP Middle East Office
As of Sept. 17, 2008, Shoichiro YAGI has replaced Kazuhiro HIRANO as General Managerof the Middle East Office. (Mr. Yagi has transferred from the Technical Cooperation Dept. in JCCP
Headquarters.)

Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum (JCCP)
Headquarters
Sunshine 60 Building 58F, 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-6058, Japan• Administration Department• Operations Department• Training Department• Technical Cooperation Department

TEL. +81-3-5396-6000
TEL. +81-3-5396-6001
TEL. +81-3-5396-6909
TEL. +81-3-5396-8021

FAX. +81-3-5396-6006
FAX. +81-3-5396-6006
FAX. +81-3-5396-6006
FAX. +81-3-5396-8015

Overseas Offices• Middle East Office#904, Al-Ghaith Office Tower, Hamdan St.,
P.O. Box 51828, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
TEL. +971-2-627-4410 FAX. +971-2-626-2166

URL: http://www.jccp.or.jp

24 • Announcements •• Riyadh Office
Al-Dahlawi Building, King Fahad Rd., Tahlia St., Olaya,
P.O. Box 61356, Riyadh 11565, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
TEL. +966-1-462-5121 FAX. +966-1-461-0983

E-mail: webmaster@jccp.or.jp

JCCP NEWS No. 102 November 2008