Pioneer | 240321 | Employee interviews | Company information

概念を超えた
サービスステーションの
実現によって新しい
時代を切り拓く。

Petroleum Marketing Department　Gas Station Construction & Development Section

T.USUI

In November 2022, Idemitsu Kosan opened a new style of service station (hereinafter referred to as SS). apollostation Type Green (hereinafter referred to as Type Green) is Japan's first environmentally friendly service station that utilizes domestically produced wood.

INTERVIEW POINT

Joined the company in 2013. After joining the company, he was assigned to the Kansai branch and was assigned to Kyoto for 4 years, then to the Chubu branch and assigned to Nagoya for 3 years. After gaining experience in handling dealers, he was assigned to Petroleum Marketing Department SS development section. Since February 2022, he has been in charge of work as a member of the Type Green development project.

給油所における
カーボンニュートラル
に挑戦しながら
林業振興を目指す。

A new attempt to make service station out of wood

When Type Green, Japan's first wooden SS, opened, its appearance and innovative concept attracted attention.

Contributing to the promotion of local forestry with environmentally friendly domestically produced building material CLT

The store was developed based on the concept of "service station where you can take a deep breath." The wood used was CLT (straight laminated board), which has excellent heat insulation, flameproofing, and heat shielding properties.
CLT is a building material that has recently been attracting attention as a material that has a low environmental impact, reduces CO₂ emissions, and helps preserve forests. "CLT is processed wood, so we try to use locally produced wood as much as possible.For example, 94% of the CLT at our first store, Smart Eco Station Nangoku Bypass (Nangoku City, Kochi Prefecture), is produced in Kochi Prefecture. We use Japanese cedar.The forestry companies are also the customers to whom we supply fuel.We believe that through this initiative, we have been able to contribute in some small way to the promotion of the local forestry industry." Looking back, as we progressed with Type Green's construction plan, a major issue arose.

先駆者ゆえに
乗り越えなければ
ならなかった
強大な壁がある。

The barrier of the Fire Service Act that prevents the realization of wooden service station

“In order for customers to recognize that the SS is made of wood, we considered a design that shows the grain of the wood.As SS is a hazardous materials handling facility, we have to comply with various laws and ordinances to ensure the safety of our customers. The fire service law, "Cabinet Ordinance Article 17 Concerning the Regulation of Hazardous Materials," describes the conditions for constructing a SS. , the beams and roof must be of fire-resistant construction, or made of noncombustible materials.This was the first time for both the permission-granting party and the constructor to construct an SS that featured CLT, which does not fall under these criteria. Looking back, I think it was natural that people expressed confusion and concern.As a result, we faced difficulties from the very beginning of selecting a potential construction site."

Looking for collaborators to join us in this first attempt in Japan

"As we continued to consider how to realize our dreams, we realized that the Fire Service Act states "noncombustible or fireproof construction" by pasting noncombustible wood on top of CLT, which has a characteristic of fire resistance. We came to the conclusion that it would be possible to obtain approval.Then, we made preliminary checks with each government agency and selected regional bases that are promoting CLT, and tried again to obtain approval.As a result, We were able to obtain permission to construct Type Green SS at three locations nationwide."

Gain understanding from more people and move on to the next goal

On November 7, 2022, Type Green's first store "Smart Eco Station Nangoku Bypass" finally opened in Nangoku City, Kochi Prefecture, followed by "Smart Eco Station Kanokodai" in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture in November of the same year, and in December of the same year. "Smart Eco Station Misugidai" in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture has started operations.

社会の変化に
呼応しながら
SSのイメージ向上を
目指し続ける。

Creating stores that evoke sympathy through new added value

“We believe that Type Green is an answer that can add new value to existing SS.As domestic demand for Petroleum shrinks, what is needed for a SS that continues to be chosen by customers is a stable It's not just a matter of being able to supply fuel in a timely manner.I think we'll live in a time when even the design of an SS will once again be focused on whether or not it resonates with Management Philosophy."

Improving the image of SS while solving social issues

Medium-term Management Plan (FY2023-2025) calls for the "Smart Yorozuya Initiative," which aims to transform service stations across the country from conventional refueling bases to lifestyle support hub. In the future, SS development will also need to continue to provide a stable supply of diverse energy, provide next-generation mobility services, and contribute to solving social issues.

ANOTHER STORY

I continue to develop SS while feeling the satisfaction of implementing ideas on paper.

Usui says that the experience he gained in store operations and store management at his new post after joining the company has led him to be able to "imagine the flow of traffic inside the store and the people who actually work there." He is always interested in the trends of not only Type Green, but also the dealerships and SS he has worked with in the past. On the other hand, SS development requires specialized knowledge in areas such as construction, equipment, and real estate, and it is also necessary to become familiar with fire regulations. While acquiring this knowledge through his work, Usui continues to be driven by his enthusiasm for his work, saying, "I find the process of implementing concepts and ideas on paper into reality very rewarding."

*As of March 2024