Alberta Seeks to Boost Oil Exports to Japan Amid Middle East Risks

The government of Alberta is in talks with Japan to increase crude oil imports from Canada's main oil-producing province. The goal is to reduce Japan's reliance on Middle Eastern oil and make it more secure, according to Energy Minister Brian Jean.

Alberta has offered to help fund the construction of a coker unit that would allow Japanese companies to process heavy Canadian crude oil. They're also exploring blending Alberta's heavy oil with synthetic oil to create a suitable blend for Japanese refiners.

'We want to work with them to make sure they can take our oil over a long period,' Jean said in an interview. 'We want to listen to our customers and provide what they want.'

This comes as Canada seeks to diversify its exports due to uncertainty around US President Donald Trump's trade policies. Currently, 90% of Canadian crude exports go to the US via southbound pipelines.