Until petroleum products arrive
In Japan, approximately 50% of petroleum products are used as energy to power automobiles, airplanes, ships, etc., approximately 25% are used as heat sources for factories, boilers, home heating, etc., and approximately 25% are used for chemical products such as plastics and synthetic fibers. Used as a raw material *.
Idemitsu Kosan considers it our responsibility to both provide a stable supply of petroleum products that are essential to people's lives and economic activities, and to contribute to carbon neutrality society.
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Source: Petroleum Federation
Crude oil procurement
Crude oil, the raw material for petroleum products, is mainly produced in the United States and the Middle East. There are approximately 300 types of crude oil in the world, and each oil type differs in quality (specific gravity, sulfur content, etc.), price, suitability for Refinery equipment, and the proportion of petroleum products obtained.
We stably procure the optimal crude oil based on factors such as crude oil prices, product markets, supply and demand balance, and Refinery operating conditions. In particular, we have maintained good relationships with oil-producing countries in the Middle East for many years, contributing to stable procurement.
Crude oil transportation by large tanker
We primarily transport crude oil using large tankers called Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (Very Large Crude Oil Carriers) operated by our subsidiary, Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd. The total length of Very Large Crude Oil Carrier is approximately 300m, making it approximately the same size as Tokyo Tower. The capacity of each Very Large Crude Oil Carrier to carry approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil. The oil refining capacity of Japan, including our group, is approximately 3.46 million barrels per day, so just one Very Large Crude Oil Carrier can load and transport an extremely large amount of crude oil.
When importing crude oil from the Middle East, it takes approximately 20 to 25 days to arrive at Refinery in Japan.
Refining at Refinery
Crude oil is refined into petroleum products in factories called Refinery.
Distillation (primary treatment)
Crude oil is heated to over 350℃ in a column called an atmospheric distillation unit, approximately 50 meters in height, and is separated and concentrated into different fractions using differences in boiling points.
Desulfurization, decomposition, modification, etc. (secondary treatment)
Desulfurization
This process removes sulfur content, which causes air pollution, from each fraction. This allows gasoline and diesel oil to This makes it possible to supply sulfur-free products (sulfur content of 10 ppm or less).
Disassembly
This is a process in which the high-carbon fraction produced during the distillation process is decomposed into a low-carbon fraction. This converts heavy oil and asphalt fractions into gasoline and kerosene fractions.
modification
Reforms naphtha fraction with a low octane number into reformed gasoline with a high octane number.
After secondary processing, quality adjustment and confirmation are performed, and only products that meet standards are finalized.
In the process of crude oil refining, it is impossible to produce only a specific component; multiple fractions are produced simultaneously. The proportion of each fraction obtained depends on the type of crude oil.
Because there is a high demand for specific products such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil, we are taking measures such as procuring crude oil that is easy to obtain the fractions that make up these products, or cracking other fractions to obtain gasoline fractions. Masu.
Lighter crude oils, which make it easier to obtain the fractions that make up gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil, tend to be more expensive than heavier crude oils, which are less likely to be obtained. Procuring cheap heavy crude oil and decomposing components such as heavy oil to obtain the necessary components will lead to cost competitiveness, and our group's Refinery are equipped with many crackers that perform this function. is our strength.
Our group strives to operate safely every day at our four Refinery and three Complex *1 in Japan, and we promote quality assurance initiatives to supply appropriate products that meet customer requests.
In addition to contributing to the stable supply of energy through Refineries/Complexes, we are promoting the creation of CNX *2 centers, which utilizes the sites and facilities of these facilities to transform them into new low-carbon and decarbonized energy hubs.
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A factory with an oil refining function is considered Refinery oil refinery, and a factory that performs both oil refining and petrochemical production, or a factory that only produces petrochemicals, is considered Complex
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CNX: Carbon Neutral Transformation
Domestic delivery by tank truck or ship
Products shipped from Refinery are transported to oil oil terminal called oil depots by tanker trucks or ships. Via these oil terminal, the oil is delivered to customers such as service station and factories by tanker trucks.
Sales to customers
In addition to selling gasoline, diesel oil, kerosene, etc. at our service station apollostation, we also sell heavy oil for ships, power plants, and factories, and jet fuel for aircraft.
“Idemitsu Technical Master (ITM)” is a qualification system for corporate dealers distributors in Petroleum sales.
We introduced the "Idemitsu Technical Master (ITM)" qualification system in 2009 with the aim of building an Idemitsu Group that helps customers solve their problems through Petroleum by strengthening the product knowledge and proposal capabilities of dealers Did.
In addition to a wide range of petroleum product knowledge, ITM 1st grade candidates have specialized knowledge of products, equipment, peripheral equipment, laws, etc., and the ability to make proposals that realize environmental protection, energy savings, and cost savings. It will be awarded only to those who pass the exam.
Through initiatives such as training sessions, we strive to acquire cutting-edge knowledge of the times and improve our proposal capabilities, and continue to earn the trust of our customers as a good partner.