The Japanese government has reached an agreement with the United
Arab Emirates to secure an additional supply of 20 million barrels
of crude oil through a route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz,
AzerNEWS reports, citing Nikkei newspaper.
The shipment will be transported via the port of Fujairah,
located in the Gulf of Oman and connected by pipeline to oil fields
in the UAE. The route allows exports to avoid passage through the
strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, where maritime risks have
recently increased.
Fujairah port has previously been targeted in drone attacks
attributed to Iran, raising concerns over the security of
alternative supply routes. As a result, Nikkei notes that ensuring
stable conditions in the region remains crucial for the reliability
of Japan’s emergency import strategy through the facility.
Earlier, at a press conference in Paris, Japan’s Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry, Yoji Muto Akazawa (Rosei Akadzava as
cited), stated that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia had pledged to
maintain stable oil supplies despite potential disruptions in the
Strait of Hormuz. According to him, both countries possess
alternative export infrastructure that enables them to bypass the
chokepoint.
Like the UAE, Saudi Arabia also operates export terminals that
allow crude shipments to be routed outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Prior to recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Japan’s major crude
oil imports were largely sourced from these two Gulf suppliers.
The developments underline Japan’s growing efforts to diversify
energy routes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty in the Gulf
region.
AloJapan.com