G-20 to highlight energy security after tanker attacks

June 15, 2019

Tokyo--Energy security has emerged as a key issue at an upcoming Group of 20 meeting in Japan due to Thursday's attacks on two tankers, including one operated by a Japanese company, near the Strait of Hormuz.

"Ensuring energy security is an important policy task that should be shared," Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko told a news conference Friday.

He will cochair the two-day meeting of the G-20 energy and environment ministers from Saturday in Karuizawa in the central prefecture of Nagano.

Japan apparently aims to underline the importance of energy security, including the safe navigation of tankers, as nearly 90 pct of Japan's crude oil imports are from the Middle East.

"We hope to deepen discussions on concerns over and threats to energy security as well as on international cooperation to deal with them," Seko said.

In June last year, the G-20 energy ministers adopted a joint statement in Argentina that pointed to "the need for persistent actions" to deal with global issues, including energy security.

The focal point of the Karuizawa meeting will be whether the G-20 members will issue a clear warning about growing geopolitical risks and form a consensus on measures to strengthen security.

The use of hydrogen energy and other topics are expected to be taken up at the Karuizawa meeting.

The outcome of the meeting will be reported at the G-20 summit in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 28-29.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, as well as representatives of Saudi Arabia and other economies, is scheduled to attend the Karuizawa meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which claims the tanker attacks were the responsibility of Iran, may set out its views on the incident in bilateral talks to be held on the sidelines of G-20 meetings. Jiji Press