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ExxonMobil Fuel Supply up 140 Percent into Area Devastated by Earthquake

Published Dec 18, 2012 2:17 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

More than 60 percent of service stations in Tohoku region are back in operation

    * More than 24 million liters of fuel delivered to Tohoku region since earthquake
    * Larger five million-liter product tankers will be sent to Shiogama fuels terminal
    * Ensuring environmentally safe operations with rigorous integrity checks for service stations

TOKYO- In an ongoing effort to quickly and safely supply much needed fuel to the areas in Japan hardest hit by the earthquake, ExxonMobil Group Japan has increased fuel supply into its Tohoku region dealer service station network by 140 percent above pre-earthquake levels.

“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”

Since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, ExxonMobil has moved more than 24 million liters of fuel, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, into the Tohoku region in northeast Japan, enough to fill 1,200 tank trucks.

“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 2,900 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 percent 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.

Safety remains a top priority for ExxonMobil. Due to the extensive damage to the area, ExxonMobil 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.”