Preface
October 2007
Since its establishment in 1986, the Japan Petroleum Energy Center (JPEC) has been actively engaged in the development of petroleum-related technology, research, and the collection and provision of information in order to maintain a stable supply of oil at affordable prices, and thus to contribute to people's daily lives and the development of the national economy.
At present, Japan is increasingly called on to deal with such issues as ensuring energy security, promotion of environmental measures to help prevent the global warming, and to cope with the changes in oil demand structure. Under these circumstances, expectations are running high for the development of petroleum-related technologies which include innovative oil refining technologies corresponding to the growing tendency of the crude oil to become heavier and the demand for lighter petroleum products to rise.
Technological advancement is also counted on in the field of oil products use in a way to deal with the environmental issues. And the technologies to put to practical use the new fuels such as biomass and hydrogen are expected to make further significant progress.In all these areas, JPEC has played an important role and will always be ready to take on the challenge to do more to meet the needs of today and the future.
