- Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd says it plans to convert the Yamaguchi refinery in western Japan into a hub of carbon-free energy.
- The Yamaguchi refinery has a crude oil processing capacity of 120,000 barrels daily.
Japan’s second-biggest oil refiner, Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd, has disclosed plans to convert the Yamaguchi refinery in western Japan into a hub of carbon-free energy such as solar power and hydrogen by the 2030s. In 2022, Idemitsu said it would end refining operations at the Yamaguchi plant, owned by its subsidiary Seibu Oil, by March 2024 to cut its refining capacity.
This is as Japan’s ageing and shrinking population, and the global shift to greener energy eat into household demand for petroleum. Idemitsu spokesperson said the Yamaguchi refinery has a crude oil processing capacity of 120,000 barrels daily. Even after terminating refining operations, it will continue to be a receiving, shipping and stockpiling terminal for petroleum products. Idemitsu aims to make the site a green energy hub, including resource recycling and technology development.