March 20, 2011
Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on March 19 urged the government to play a role in delivering gasoline to earthquake-stricken areas.
At a meeting held in the Diet between government officials and party representatives, Kokuta pointed out that currently in six prefectures in the disaster-hit Tohoku region only about 180 out of 600 gas stations are operating for the general public and the others are limited to emergency vehicles.
He continued, “What is essential is to provide petrol to the people in need living in the devastated areas, and the government is responsible for that.”
In response to that, senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office Azuma Shozo promised, “The government aims to make sure that people in the areas can secure necessary goods.”
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General consumers living in the areas hit by the Great East Japan Disaster are still unable to obtain sufficient gasoline and kerosene, making it difficult to conduct rescue efforts and to return to a normal life. This is mainly because the government fails to play a leading role in providing the supply of oil.
Japan previously had the Petroleum Industry Law to ensure the stable supply of low-cost oil products. Under the law, the government obliged oil distributors to draw up emergency oil supply plans.
Since the law was abolished in 2002, the government has no longer been responsible for the stable supply of gasoline. So today, general consumers in the disaster-hit areas are queuing up at gas stations to buy gasoline. An official at the Resources and Energy Agency said, “We cannot intervene in private-sector transactions.”
The Petroleum Industry Law was abrogated by the former LDP-Komei government led by then Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichiro as part of his “structural reform” privatization policy. The Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party supported the abrogation of the law. The JCP opposed the move, warning that if the government abdicates its role in controlling the supply and demand in the oil market, it will have a significant impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods.
Since the earthquake occurred, the national government has taken on the responsibility to supply gasoline to be used for urgent needs in the disaster-hit regions. In order to make the government responsible for the oil supply in a wider field, disaster-hit municipalities can conclude an emergency agreement with local gas stations so that the national administration are obliged to get gasoline and kerosene delivered to them.
At a meeting held in the Diet between government officials and party representatives, Kokuta pointed out that currently in six prefectures in the disaster-hit Tohoku region only about 180 out of 600 gas stations are operating for the general public and the others are limited to emergency vehicles.
He continued, “What is essential is to provide petrol to the people in need living in the devastated areas, and the government is responsible for that.”
In response to that, senior vice minister of the Cabinet Office Azuma Shozo promised, “The government aims to make sure that people in the areas can secure necessary goods.”
***
General consumers living in the areas hit by the Great East Japan Disaster are still unable to obtain sufficient gasoline and kerosene, making it difficult to conduct rescue efforts and to return to a normal life. This is mainly because the government fails to play a leading role in providing the supply of oil.
Japan previously had the Petroleum Industry Law to ensure the stable supply of low-cost oil products. Under the law, the government obliged oil distributors to draw up emergency oil supply plans.
Since the law was abolished in 2002, the government has no longer been responsible for the stable supply of gasoline. So today, general consumers in the disaster-hit areas are queuing up at gas stations to buy gasoline. An official at the Resources and Energy Agency said, “We cannot intervene in private-sector transactions.”
The Petroleum Industry Law was abrogated by the former LDP-Komei government led by then Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichiro as part of his “structural reform” privatization policy. The Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party supported the abrogation of the law. The JCP opposed the move, warning that if the government abdicates its role in controlling the supply and demand in the oil market, it will have a significant impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods.
Since the earthquake occurred, the national government has taken on the responsibility to supply gasoline to be used for urgent needs in the disaster-hit regions. In order to make the government responsible for the oil supply in a wider field, disaster-hit municipalities can conclude an emergency agreement with local gas stations so that the national administration are obliged to get gasoline and kerosene delivered to them.
