Japan Plans Middle East Pipelines to Bypass Strait of Hormuz

The Government of Japan unveiled a comprehensive energy resilience plan on Wednesday to reduce its vulnerability to supply disruptions following the outbreak of war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Because 93% of Japan's crude oil passed through the strait in 2025, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered measures to diversify procurement and increase energy self-sufficiency.

To reduce reliance on the strangled waterway, Japan will provide financial support through the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security for the construction and expansion of alternative oil pipelines in the Middle East, assisting initiatives led by Saudi Arabia and other nations. The government is also introducing a levy-funded scheme to help refiners and traders cover higher transportation costs for alternative supplies, alongside a reinsurance scheme for shippers. To mitigate immediate shortages, Japan has increased imports from the United States and utilized its oil reserves.

Long-term strategies include maximizing the use of nuclear power to meet AI-driven electricity demands, with plans to replace 2–5 reactors in the 2040s and 11–14 in the 2050s. Additionally, the government is supporting the development of domestic renewable energy supply chains, specifically focusing on offshore wind power and next-generation perovskite solar cells.