To support Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Kuwaiti government stated in April that it would donate five million barrels of crude oil to Japan. The first shipment of this crude oil arrived in Japan. In commemoration of this, Mr. Yukio Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI Minister), hosted a presentation ceremony on October 12 at the Negishi Refinery of JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation.

1. On April 18, 2011, H.E. Mr. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, then Minister of Oil of Kuwait, announced that the country would donate five million barrels of crude oil (worth about forty billion yen) to Japan in accordance with the intent of H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. On April 27, H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Japan, presented Oil Minister Ahmad's letter that officially states the above intent to then METI Minister Banri Kaieda.
2. The first tanker carrying the crude oil donated by Kuwait arrived at JX Nippon Oil & Energy's Negishi Refinery. In commemoration of this, METI Minister Edano hosted a presentation ceremony on October 12 by inviting Mr. Farouq Al-Zanki, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation; Ambassador Al-Otaibi; Mr. Toshiyuki Kato, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Tadateru Konoe, President of Japanese Red Cross Society; Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East; Mr. Yasushi Kimura, President and Representative Director of JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (Vice President of the Petroleum Association of Japan), executives of oil wholesalers, and representatives of the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
3. During the ceremony, METI Minister Edano showed his gratitude to Kuwait for its enormous support for disaster relief and stated that the donated crude oil would be put to good use for reconstruction activities. In response, Mr. Al-Zanki expressed his expectations for Japan's early recovery and his country's intention of cooperating on stable oil supply to Japan.

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Presentation ceremony at the Negishi Refinery of JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

October 14, 2011

Middle East and Africa Division, Trade Policy Bureau