ExxonMobil increases efforts to supply earthquake stricken Japan with fuel

ExxonMobil Group Japan has increased fuel supply into its Tohoku region dealer service station network by 140% above pre-earthquake levels in an effort to supply much needed fuel to the areas in Japan hardest hit by the natural disaster on March 11.

ExxonMobil has moved more than 24 million liters of fuel, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, into the Tohoku region in northeast Japan since the earthquake.

‘We are acutely aware of the suffering and anxiety of the many people affected by the earthquake,’ said Philippe Ducom, president of ExxonMobil Group Japan. ‘The top priority of our 2900 employees in Japan is to work together to continue to build a stable supply chain and help restore operations at our dealer services stations so that people in the most affected areas can get much needed fuel.’

‘The rapid and safe restoration of our Esso, Mobil and General service station network is a result of the tremendous effort of our supply business partners, fuels marketing local representatives, and service station dealers in Tohoku,’ added Ducom. ‘It is through their strong commitment and dedication that more than 60% of our dealer sites are back in operation and more are being added every day. Yet there is still much work ahead to get fuel to people in Tohoku.’

ExxonMobil dealers have a network of 360 Esso, Mobil, and General service stations in the Tohoku region. Due to the extensive damage to the area, the company is supporting its dealers by providing them with safe start up procedures to rigorously assess service station integrity as they are brought back on line.

All of ExxonMobil’s refineries in Japan are running at higher than normal rates, continuing increased supply to stock devastated areas. In addition, the reopening of ExxonMobil’s Shiogama Terminal in Sendai continues to boost fuel supplies into the Tohoku region.

‘ExxonMobil is a member of the Petroleum Association of Japan and continues to work very closely with the government to address the challenge of delivering fuels to help relief and recovery work,’ Ducom said. ‘We are planning to run larger five million liter product tankers into Shiogama early this week as the port can now accommodate deeper draft ships.’

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/29032011/exxonmobil_increases_efforts_to_supply_earthquake_stricke_-japan_with_fuel/