International Railroad Discussion > Energy Policy Editorial (Japan)

Since many business travelers use the Shinkansen, you'll often see economic related news scroll on the digital announcement board while riding it. I happen to see a news that Cosmo Sekyu (Cosmo Petroleum) is receiving the first shipment of U.S. shale oil today in Mie Prefecture, which is near Nagoya. Coincidence or not, that is near the Toyota headquarters.

Here's a link in Japanese. I'm sure an English version will be posted shortly, although I couldn't find one as of now:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20141008/k10015219141000.html

As usual, I thought there's more to the story, so I looked around and found this editorial, posted last month (in English):

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/09/21/commentary/japan-commentary/rather-than-boon-for-japan-u-s-shale-oil-is-still-rip-off/

We often get frivolous gas tax comments in the Passenger Board when talking about transportation policies. In Japan, perhaps, diplomacy might dictate energy policy more than taxes? So the $6.50 per gallon gasoline includes tribute fee to the Middle East, and U.S. oil industry supply chain spaghetti surcharge? :-)

Whether you decide to agree or disagree with this editorial, it's a reminder to folks on TO to do a little digging before editorializing.

cchan006 Wrote:
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> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/09/21/com
> mentary/japan-commentary/rather-than-boon-for-japa
> n-u-s-shale-oil-is-still-rip-off/

Unless there's something going on behind the scene I'm unaware of the United States still cannot export crude oil to any county except Canada (and that requires a special waiver from the US Government). They can, however, export condensate. People, somehow, manage to confuse the two. I'll go out on a limb and bet this was condensate, most likely from the Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas. If so then this article is utter nonsense.


Allen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/14 18:56 by bradleymckay.

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cchan006 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/09/21/com
>
> >
> mentary/japan-commentary/rather-than-boon-for-japa
>
> > n-u-s-shale-oil-is-still-rip-off/
>
> Unless there's something going on behind the scene
> I'm unaware of the United States still cannot
> export crude oil to any county except Canada (and
> that requires a special waiver from the US
> Government). They can, however, export
> condensate. People, somehow, manage to confuse
> the two. I'll go out on a limb and bet this was
> condensate, most likely from the Eagle Ford Shale
> in south Texas. If so then this article is utter
> nonsense.
>
>
> Allen

Allen,

Appreciate your comments. I believe it is condensate that is being imported into Japan, after looking around some more. Still waiting for an English-translated article.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/14 19:13 by cchan006.