JCCP activities in fiscal 2019 were steadily implemented as planned from the beginning of the fiscal year despite the severe financial situation of recent years. This was due to the appropriation of a larger budget for government-subsidized projects than in the previous year in recognition of the validity and effectiveness of JCCP activities in countries around the world. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of year, while the global spread of the pandemic toward the end of the fiscal year prevented the targets of the initial action plan from being achieved in full, a certain level of results has nevertheless been achieved.

Continuing on from last fiscal year, the basic project implementation policy defined JCCP’s role in contributing to ensuring a stable oil supply and in supporting the expansion of product exports and overseas business expansion with the goal of strengthening the competitiveness of Japan’s oil industry. Based on this policy, a new cooperation project was implemented in Argentina as requested by Japanese companies. Activities were also undertaken to cultivate LNG-related cooperation projects in

Under the fiscal 2019 HRD program, a total of 22 regular courses were conducted directly by JCCP. They included 5 courses related to strategic project management and marketing/physical distribution; 3 courses related to human resources and financial accounting; 2 courses related to the environment, new energies and energy conservation; 2 courses on quality and safety control; 3 courses on process and power generation technologies; 5 courses related to maintenance; and 2 courses on instrumentation control.

Customized courses were also implemented in response to individual requests from Middle East oil-producing countries in Southeast Asia, and oil-producing countries that are expected to become new sources of energy supply. In fiscal 2019, 14 such courses were held in all, 11 of which

The researcher exchange (invitation/dispatch) program promotes the exchange of researchers to and from Japan and oil- and gas-producing countries with the aim of cultivating researchers who can contribute to the future development of advanced technologies in the oil downstream sector. Under the fiscal 2019 researcher dispatch program, two researchers were dispatched to Saudi Arabia (KFUPM) and Kuwait (KISR), respectively, for a total period of one month. Under the researcher invitation program, implemented on commission by The Japan Petroleum Institute (JPI), six

JCCP technical cooperation projects are designed to help solve technical issues to be faced by the oil downstream sector and other relevant sectors in oil- and gas-producing countries, by transferring Japan’s technologies and expertise and engaging in joint technology development. In fiscal year 2019, these projects were divided into the three stages mentioned below and implemented while verifying their relevance to their respective stages. In the project finding stage (basic survey), five projects were implemented in five countries. In the confirmation stage of project feasibility (feasibility study), 10 projects were conducted in seven countries. In the joint project stage with oil-producing countries (joint projects), 17 projects were conducted in eight countries.

A particularly noteworthy achievements made in fiscal 2019 were the signing of agreements for the implementation of three new projects, two of which were

International cooperation programs aim to promote and strengthen information sharing and personal relationships through international conferences and other such activities.

JCCP has organized the JCCP International Symposium every year since its founding as a forum for the discussion of oil supply issues and solutions among energy experts, government representatives and management officers from related institutions in oil- and gas-producing countries, who are invited to Japan, and experts in the downstream sectors of Japan’s oil and gas industries. It also provides the participants with an opportunity to mutually confirm their cooperative relationships and seek future cooperation in the oil downstream sector. The 38th JCCP International Symposium for fiscal 2019 was held in January 2020 at The Okura Tokyo. Themed on “Aiming for the Sustainability of the Oil and Gas Industry – Emerging issues and how to tackle them –,” it was held with the participation of 16 invited panelists from 13 countries. In Leaders Panel 1, government officials and energy experts in oil- and gas-producing countries in the Middle East and Asia exchanged views on human resource development, organizational reform, and environmental issues from a policy perspective. In the two Leaders Panels held that afternoon, speakers representing national oil companies in oil- and gas-producing countries in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa and speakers from Japanese companies shared views with the audience on issues relating to human resource development in Leaders Panel 2, and on issues relating to technologies in Leaders Panel 3. A total of approximately 350 people from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, oil-producing countries, embassies in Japan, government agencies, domestic companies and various organizations attended the symposium.

JCCP also hosts thematic joint symposiums at the request of a counterpart country or organization. Cohosted by an oil-producing country or organization and JCCP, either in Japan or in the counterpart country, they are designed to widely

[Japan-Kuwait Joint Symposium] The 19th Japan-Kuwait Joint Symposium was held at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on February 3 and 4, 2020, jointly hosted by Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), KISR, The Japan Petroleum Institute (JPI) and JCCP. With “Advancement in Petroleum Refining Industries” as its main

JCCP has overseas offices in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar Office) and Abu Dhabi, UAE (Middle East Office). Each office is in charge of a group of Middle East countries, with the Al-Khobar Office in charge of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain, and the Middle East Office in charge of UAE, Qatar, Oman and Iran. The principle roles of these overseas offices are to provide local support for the smooth and safe implementation of projects in the countries under their charge, and to collect relevant information about the countries.

By utilizing the network JCCP has established since its founding with national oil companies and other such organizations in Middle East oil-