The Japanese petroleum industry retains oil spill response equipment such as oil fences and oil dispersants, based on laws and regulations, including the Law on the Prevention of Disasters in Petroleum Industrial Complexes and Other Petroleum Facilities and the Law Relating to the Prevention of Marine Pollution and Maritime Disaster, as well as the independent judgment of each company. The industry also maintains a comprehensive response system to ensure that full preparations have been made for oil spill incidents, including the foundation of the PAJ Oil Spill Cooperative (POSCO) in 1973, which is a mutual support organization consisting of PAJ member companies as well as a broad range of other petroleum-related companies.

However, the oil spill in Alaska in March 1989 triggered international concern over conservation of the ocean environment, especially the necessity of strengthening the capacity to respond to oil spills.

Based on such international developments, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI, formerly MITI, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) of Japan arranged a government subsidy for the “Major Oil Spill Response Programme” in fiscal 1990, which PAJ began to implement from 1991. The purpose of this programme is to prevent the spread of major oil spills by stockpiling oil spill response equipment and lending it when required upon request, and to contribute to maintaining a stable supply of oil to Japan by enhancing the response systems against major oil spills both in Japan and abroad.

PAJ is promoting the three programmes described below under this subsidy for “Major Oil Spill Response Programme.”

Stockpile oil spill response equipment and lend it when required upon request in the event of a major oil spill.

Conduct research on oil spill response technology, response systems, etc. and research and development of more effective technology for processing spilled oil, etc.

Invite oil spill response experts from Japan and abroad to exchange information and views, focusing on themes including case examples of responding to actual major oil spills and the latest response technology.